Bald Eagle Back in the Wild

Pennsylvania Game Commission officials proudly released a rehabilitated bald eagle back into the wilds of State Game Land 143 in Warren County, under the watchful eye of many individuals responsible for the majestic bird’s recovery from injuries sustained in January.

On Jan. 23, the injured, four-year old female bald eagle, weighing 13.5 pounds, was found along the side of Route 6 near Youngsville. Warren County WCO David Donachy transported the eagle to Tamarack Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center in Crawford County.

“Tamarack is an excellent wildlife rehabilitation facility that we have worked with on numerous occasions, and they have proven themselves to be especially skilled when dealing with raptors, including bald eagles,” said Keith Harbaugh, Game Commission Northwest Region Office. “Sue DeArment and her team at Tamarack, along with Dr. Jamie Lindstrom of Ohio’s Animal Clinic Northview, are to be commended for their caring and compassionate work to rehabilitate this eagle. We would not be here today to return this eagle back to the wild if it were not for their investment of time, skills, energy and money.”

Harbaugh noted that Tamarack, as well as and other Pennsylvania licensed wildlife rehabilitation facilities, do their work to benefit Pennsylvania’s wildlife without any direct funding from taxpayers.

Upon receiving the injured eagle on Jan. 23, DeArment noted that the wing-bone had pierced the skin. Working with her team, DeArment cleaned the wound, and re-inserted the bone under the skin. Next she wrapped the wing in a figure-eight splint, with an added overall body wrap to press the fracture in place. Fluids were then administered along with an antibiotic, and a combination anti-inflammatory-pain medication.

On Jan. 25, Dr. Lindstrom inserted a pin into the injured bone to hold it in place as it healed. Dr. Lindstrom, who has worked with eagles for 45 years, considers this one an outstanding female. Experienced volunteers at Tamarack then worked with the eagle several times a week as part of a physical therapy regime to stretch its wing, tendons and ligaments. In addition, the eagle was placed in enclosed areas and encouraged to fly to perches set at various heights.

While at Tamarack, two leg bands with National Banding Association numbering identified this eagle as having come from New York. After contacting Peter Nye, a New York Department of Natural Resources endangered species biologist, it was learned that the eagle was banded in May 2004. Officially known as Y18, this eagle and her nest mate hatched in a sycamore tree along the west branch of the Delaware River near Delancey, New York, in the Catskills.

For more information on bald eagles in Pennsylvania, please visit the Game Commission’s website (www.pgc.state.pa.us), click on “Wildlife” in the left-hand column, then select “E/T Species,” and then click on “Bald Eagles” under the list of state Threatened Species. Also, in the “News Release” section, click on “Release #071-08” for the 2008 annual bald eagle nesting report.