On January 13, a mature Bald Eagle was found in the road in Northumberland County. Animal control officer Kevin Keeve picked up the bird and took it to permitted rehabilitator Diana O’Connor. [Some regular Wildlife Center website visitors will remember that Cpl. Keeve was the person who originally rescued Bald Eagle NX]. A volunteer transporter drove the eagle to the Wildlife Center the following day.
The veterinary team found that the eagle had hemorrhaging in its right eye, as well as its left ear. The eagle’s lower beak was also deviated to the right. All of these injuries are consistent with blunt trauma to the eagle’s head – likely due to a collision with a vehicle. The eagle’s eye pressure was elevated, likely due to the head trauma. The veterinary team also noted a cardiac arrhythmia. The team did not palpate any fractures, though the eagle was not stable enough for anesthesia and radiographs.
Blood was drawn to test the eagle for lead toxicity; the diagnostic team found a level of 0.36 ppm. At the Center, anything higher than a 0.2 ppm result warrants treatment; chelation therapy was started. The eagle was given anti-inflammatories and was settled into an oxygen therapy enclosure in the Center’s holding room.
On January 16, the eagle appeared bright and alert, and the veterinary team were not able to hear any heart abnormalities. The eagle was moved to a regular enclosure in the Center’s holding room.
