Nat'l Eagle Center in Wabasha needs more room to spread its wings

The National Eagle Center in Wabasha has outgrown its current space and will lease additional space in a nearby downtown building.

The 15,000-square-foot facility houses exhibits, classrooms and five captive bald eagles.

Public relations director Eileen Hanson says the new space is a temporary solution before staff begins to plan a larger facility expansion.

"Based on all the organizational needs, whether it be for the eagles, for the visitors, for storage, for administrative space, in the long run, we probably need an additional 12,000 square feet," she said.

The new space will house eagles and serve as a training area for staff. It won't be open to the public.

The new space will be retrofitted later this month and staff will move in in February.

More than 75,000 people visit the National Eagle Center each year, Hanson said.