Bald Eagle Returned to the Wild
After some careful nursing at the Virginia Wildlife Foundation a one year old Bald eagle was returned to the wild. In early December it was brought to the center after eating food contaminated with pesticides. Food is scarce in the winter and it is thought that the Bald Eagle was hungry enough to eat something that he would not normally be eating.
At the center his system was flushed out to remove the food and he was given fluids and antibiotics. The eagle was treated for two weeks at a cost of $3000 but this could have been avoided by people The Bald Eagle is no longer on the endangered species list but according to Ann Shirley of Norfolk Eagle Support Team International “People may assume that they are safe now and that there is no need to be concerned about the eagles, but the truth of the matter is we need to keep our focus on them.” She went on to say that people need to be careful about the pesticides and other chemicals as they can harm, not only birds, but other wildlife too and are the Bald Eagles greatest threat.
The Bald Eagle was fully recovered when he was released and now has every chance of surviving.
Image by dobak