On October 5th 2012, we received a juvenile bald eagle. He does not have a white head yet because their head is not white until they are 5 years old and sexually mature. He was found down on the ground with obvious trauma related injuries such as an abrasion on the wing and a sore left leg, but there were no fractures. There were other signs that pointed to lead poisoning such as anemia, bright green feces and severe lethargy. So we immediately sent out blood work and also started treatment for lead and antibiotics for the injuries. The blood work came back positive for lead poisoning, but it was a low level. That’s good news; it can be treated! So many eagles over the years that we have received have had such as toxic lead level, that they didn’t make it. Some were so high, the lab could not even measure the amount.
 

10-5-12 Arrival day…a very sick bird indeed


The eagle was so sick we had to tube feed him a liquid diet.  He could not handle solid food at that point.. Volunteer Ashley Bosak is holding the bird right after we tube fed him.


After about 10 days, he is feeling better, but that left leg is still ouchy and he is lying down most of the time.

Finally Monday, October 22^nd, he starting perching in the outside flight enclosure!  It’s obvious that that left leg is still ouchy, but he is using it and moving around. And he is eating like a pig…about a pound a day.

On November 25th and he is flying more and more and getting stronger. And he is using his sore leg well and you can't even tell that there was a problem..  He will need to get a lot stronger before he can be released because they need to fly for a living.  We are thrilled that he has made a full recovery from the lead poisoning and will be released once he is stronger and has some flight conditioning.

Release on January 17th 2012  Video of the Release

See more pictures on our facebook page:  http://www.facebook.com/CentreWildlifeCare

Thank you to all that helped save this bird!

The anonomous finder who called the Army Corp of Engineers by Cowanesque lake, Steve Sporer of The Army Corp of Engineers who caught the bird and delivered him to Dr. Kreger, Dr. Kreger who provided emergency veterinary care, WCO Rodney Mee who transported the bird from Tioga county to the Jersey shore Game Commission office, Biologist Tony Ross who transported the bird from Jersey Shore to Centre Wildlife Care, Dr. Erica Miller and Dr. Sallie Weltie from Tri-State who provided medical advice, Animal Medical Hospital who provided medical advice and all the wonderful volunteers who helped care for Canace at Centre Wildlife Care.  He was a handful!  This was quite the team effort...thank you all!  If I missed anyone, please let us know (centrewildlifecare@gmail.com)

How do birds get lead poisoning you ask? 

Learn more on how lead ammunition can leave lead in the meat in this video:  (BTW, this is NOT an anti hunting video.  It was developed by hunters and biologists for hunters.) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MlrYDYKYikw

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