BALD EAGLE RESCUED BY EXPERT TEAM
Written by Maureen Magee, President WREN
Wildlife Rehabilitation and Educational Network
Written by Maureen Magee, President WREN
Wildlife Rehabilitation and Educational Network
13 MARCH 2024
Daniel Jones of FWC received a call about a Bald Eagle that had been hit by a car. The driver of the car immediately reported the collision to FWC, and waited with the Eagle until help arrived. All of us in wildlife rescue efforts thank this driver for his concern for the Eagle and for his willingness to stay with the bird, monitoring her movements, until the rescue team arrived.
While driving to the site, Daniel contacted Cedar Key Bird Rescue, WREN.
The CK Bird Rescue Hotline for WREN received his call and immediately sent out two of our raptor experts:
The CK Bird Rescue Hotline for WREN received his call and immediately sent out two of our raptor experts:
Doug Maple, who has been rescuing area Raptors for decades, and is a founding member of the CK Bird Rescue team
and Janie Veltkamp, not only a member of the WREN rescue team, but also head of the local Audubon Chapter and Founding Director of Birds of Prey Northwest in Idaho.
Daniel and Doug met at the site, and cautiously, wearing protective gloves, corralled the very large bird, staying clear of the powerful talons and beak, which can go through human muscle to bone in a flash.
This feisty female adult Bald Eagle is to be taken seriously, and to be handled by experts only. As the old saying goes, “Please do not try this on your own!”
Once Daniel and Doug secured the Eagle in a very large carrier, they transported her to the raptor expert, Janie, awaiting their arrival in Cedar Key.
Janie examined the bird, determined her to be a female, based on age and weight; with the Eagle showing a likely metacarpal joint injury, Janie stabilized her for transport to the UF Wildlife Veterinarians who work with Federally protected wildlife such as Bald Eagles.
The female adult Bald Eagle is now in the care of the Wildlife Vets. When a bird recovers and can be released, the plan is always to return a raptor to her territory, where she most likely has a mate and a nest awaiting her return.
Thanks to all of you who care about the well-being of wildlife.
Important numbers to know:
Important numbers to know:
FWC – Florida Wildlife officer for our area,
Daniel Jones 786-698-0371
WREN Bird Rescue 352-477-0057
WREN Bird Rescue 352-477-0057
Stop by any of the Wildlife booths along the City Park during the CK Arts Festival, April 6-7 and pick up information about how you can help.
********