PATIENT:  Bald Eagle, #11-0659

LOCATION OF RESCUE:  Gloucester County, VA

 CIRCUMSTANCES OF ADMISSION:  Gunshot

ADMISSION DATE:  May 10, 2011

OUTCOME:  Euthanized

On Tuesday May 10, Conservation Police Officer Dwayne Dunlevy received a call about an injured, mature Bald Eagle at a landfill in Gloucester County.  Early reports stated that the eagle was standing quietly with its head down.  The bird was captured and through a series of DGIF officials, was transported to the Wildlife Center that same evening.

Dr. Miranda Sadar admitted the bird and found multiple gunshot injuries.  The eagle had sustained gunshot injuries to its right eye and left wing and also had entry and exit wounds through its crop.  Dr. Miranda also noted other pieces of shot throughout the rest of its body.   Injuries were so severe that Dr. Miranda humanely euthanized the eagle shortly after its admission.  The eagle and its injuries were reported to DGIF. 

Several people in the Gloucester area wondered if the eagle admitted on May 10 might be the eagle [#11-0207, also from Gloucester]  that self-released from the Wildlife Center last week.  This isn’t the case — the May 10 Bald Eagle [#11-0659] was much smaller than #11-207.  The May 10th Eagle also had some old retinal damage in its left eye.