National Eagle Repository

We've been talking about birds in science since this month, and mostly the kids sigh and say "We already know that..."  So I was trying to figure out what we could study about birds that they didn't already know.  I picked up some books on migration patterns, specifically one about eagle migration, since Caleb's main interest is the birds of prey.  In that book, we learned about a place called the National Eagle Repository, which is where all bald and golden eagle carcasses must be sent for processing.  They evaluate the birds to see how they died, then dismantle them to send the feathers, talons, and heads out to qualifying American Indian applicants for ceremonial purposes.  All eagle parts have to be legally acquired through this agency, and only approved American Indian tribal applicants can get the parts.  Guess where this facility is - the only one in the country?  Denver!  So right then I googled and contacted them, and they invited us out for a tour this week.

Friday we drove up to the west side of town after picking Rachel up from Kindergarten and found our way to the Rocky Mountain Arsenal and Wildlife Refuge, a massive open space that I did not know even existed.  In the 40's and 50's a huge chemical and munitions factory was built there, but was demolished in the 90's after contractors found Bald Eagles nesting in the area (also, I think its usefulness had dwindled).  Now it is a huge preserve, including the dilapidated old building that serves as the National Eagle Repository.  I was a little nervous as we parked and entered the building, it looks on the outside like it hasn't been updated since the 40's or 50's.

But once we were inside...it was AWESOME!  We were with a college group on the tour, and the woman giving the tour was a Wildlife Inspector.  The room we started in was full of confiscated illegal items like stuffed tigers, tropical bird feather art, lizard skin clothing of all kinds, skulls, skins, you name it.  Things that were smuggled into the country illegally but discovered and taken.  It was fascinating.

Next we moved into the eagle processing area, where a man in full protective gear was evaluating an eagle carcass.  They have one wall that is mostly windows, like Krispy Kreme, so you can see what he's doing.  We watched, and our guide talked about the program.  As she answered questions, the man finished he evaluation, picked up some loppers, and hacked the wings and talons from the carcass.  Holy Moly!  The lady said, "Oh, the skull on that bird was pulverized so he is keeping the other parts and getting rid of the body and head."  Again, fascinating.  The demand for eagle parts far exceeds the supply, so there is an approximately 5 year wait to get parts.  Crazy!

The last place we went was a huge warehouse where they organize and store the confiscated illegal animal items.  Imagine piles on piles of huge sea turtle shells, rhinoceros skin boots, seahorses, tiger products, elephant products, fur coats...piled on shelves and neatly labeled.  It was wild.  They donate some of the items to museums or historical societies, donate some for educational programs and purposes, and then incinerate most of the rest of it.

We couldn't take pictures in most of the facility, except the very first room (with a confiscated stuffed tiger):

 

Anyway, we left there super enthused, and having learned a lot about something we knew nothing about before.  I call it a win!