Fire kills 3 raptors at Edgerton Explorit Center

Tragedy strikes Nebraska wildlife education center

Published on Feb. 13, 2026

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A fire broke out at the Edgerton Explorit Center in Aurora, Nebraska on Friday morning, resulting in the deaths of three raptors - an eastern screech owl named Doc, a Swainson's hawk named Roy, and an American kestrel named Chetan.

Why it matters

The Edgerton Explorit Center is an important wildlife education facility in Nebraska, teaching visitors about native birds of prey and the importance of conservation. The loss of these three raptors is a tragic setback for the center's educational programs and efforts to raise awareness about threatened species.

The details

The fire occurred in the center's raptor enclosure, where the three birds were housed. Firefighters were able to extinguish the blaze, but the three raptors perished. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but officials say it does not appear to be suspicious in nature.

  • The fire broke out on Friday, February 13, 2026.

The players

Edgerton Explorit Center

A wildlife education center in Aurora, Nebraska that teaches visitors about native birds of prey and the importance of conservation.

Doc

An eastern screech owl that was housed at the Edgerton Explorit Center and perished in the fire.

Roy

A Swainson's hawk that was housed at the Edgerton Explorit Center and perished in the fire.

Chetan

An American kestrel that was housed at the Edgerton Explorit Center and perished in the fire.

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The takeaway

This tragic incident highlights the importance of fire safety and preparedness at wildlife education centers, where the loss of even a few animals can have a significant impact on conservation efforts and educational programming. The Edgerton Explorit Center will need to thoroughly investigate the cause of the fire and implement any necessary safety improvements to prevent such a devastating loss from occurring again.