NPS - National Park Service

27/07/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 27/07/2024 19:05

Black Hills Raptor Center

News Release Date:
July 27, 2024

Agate Fossil Beds National Monument News Release

July 26, 2024
For Immediate Release
Park Ranger AJ Legault, e-mail us 308-665-4113Black Hills Raptor Center at Agate Fossil Beds National Monument this Friday, August 2nd!

The next night sky event is happening this Friday, August 2nd from 8-10pm at Agate Fossil Beds National Monument. This night sky event will be far from ordinary though. The Black Hills Raptor Center will bring their birds of prey and explain why they need dark skies. Telescopes will be available after the presentation to view amazing features in the dark skies above the park.

The mission of the Black Hills Raptor Center from Rapid City, South Dakota, is to conserve and protect native birds of prey and their natural habitats through education, rehabilitation, and research. All the raptors at this center are native to South Dakota and came to the center after being injured.

Black Hills Parks & Forest Association sells night sky related items in the visitor center. It will be open from 7:30-8:00pm. The program will begin at 8pm. Then, telescopes will be available for viewing from 8:45-10pm.

Visitors should bring lawn chairs or blankets to spread out on the lawn outside of the visitor center. Please only bring red flashlights. Red cellophane and rubber bands will be available in the visitor center to cover visitor flashlights as needed.

We hope you can join us for this fun-filled evening. For more information, please contact the park at (308) 665-4113 or e-mail us. No registration is needed.
Admission to Agate Fossil Beds is always free. Check out other events and activities on the park's website at https://www.nps.gov/agfo/planyourvisit/calendar.htm.

Agate Fossil Beds National Monument is located 34 miles north of Mitchell, NE or 22 miles south of Harrison, NE on Highway 29 and 3 miles east on River Rd. The Visitor Center summer hours are 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. and the trails are open from dawn until dusk. Visit us at www.nps.gov/agfo and on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.