The Northwest Raptor Center was started in the 1970's by D. Burns of Clallam Bay, Washington. Jaye Moore & her husband, Gary took over the operation in Clallam Bay. They moved to the present location in Sequim in June 1994.
The Center occupies approximately 1/3 acre behind their home.
Jaye grew up in the West End of Clallam County. The West End is still very rural and isolated. The current population of Clallam Bay is 550 & there are only 66 single-family dwellings. In fact, the Olympic Peninsula has the largest contiguous area without any roads in the lower-48 states of the country. Highway 101 is the only road into and out of the county. Most of the land in the county that is not National Park or National Forest land, belongs to either lumber companies or one of several Native American tribes.
As a young girl, Jaye spent much of her time caring for the wild animals around her and tells great stories about how she made life difficult for those that tried to capture or kill wild animals.
The Northwest Raptor Center is a small operation that focuses on preparing injured animals for successful release back to the wild, and for a life-time residence for those that cannot be successfully released. The emphasis is on successful release--an animal that has not been imprinted or otherwise so accustomed to humans that its instincts have been compromised, and that is physically ready to be released. The Center has no interest in achieving being the biggest, fanciest, or best known wild animal rehabilitation center. The focus is entirely on doing what is best for the animals.
The Northwest Raptor Center accomplishes this through Jay'es constant hands-on involvement, a small corps of dedicated volunteers, and generous donations from people like you that want to help wild animals.