For more than 20 years, Skyler the Bald Eagle was one of the Wildlife Center's most popular and familiar public personalities - an icon of wildlife conservation and endangered species preservation efforts.

Skyler appeared on nearly every major television network, in magazines and newspapers nationwide, and in venues ranging from the White House, Pentagon, and the U.S. Capitol to rural elementary schools and civic club dinners.

In April 2006, Skyler passed away, at the age of 25.

While there's no way of replacing Skyler, the Wildlife Center recognizes the symbolic importance of having a Bald Eagle "on staff" as one of our resident education animals.  Skyler was originally rescued by the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey in Maitland, Florida.  Almost at the same time as Skyler's death, the Audubon Center admitted a juvenile Bald Eagle, born in the spring of 2006, that had suffered wing injuries in the nest - injuries that prevent this bird from flying.

That eagle, named Justus, is now a resident of the Wildlife Center and is being trained in preparation for a new career as an education ambassador on behalf of wildlife and the environment.  It is hoped that Justus, like Skyler, will touch the hearts and lives of people of all ages for decades to come.

For now, Justus lacks one important attribute that we all associate with a Bald Eagle - the distinctive white head.  Those feathers will not fully appear until Justus matures, when she reaches age five.