On June 18, a young Bald Eagle was found down on the ground at Westlake Country Club at Smith Mountain Lake, Virginia. Dr. Diane D’Orazio from the Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center went to the country club to retrieve the eagle; the bird was on a cliff overlooking a creek on the golf course. Dr. Diane was able to capture the young bird and transported it back to the Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center in Roanoke.
The eagle was quiet and thin and had maggots present on the shafts of the feathers on its tail and right wing. Dr. Diane and rehabilitator Sabrina treated the bird, removed the maggots, and began tube-feeding the young eagle. The following morning, the young eagle was brighter and standing. The eagle was transported to the Wildlife Center of Virginia on June 21.
Dr. Meghan noted that the eagle was bright and alert, and well hydrated when it arrived at the Center. No external parasites were noted. The physical examination and blood work were within normal limits. The bird became stressed with prolonged handling, and the team decided to move the young eagle outside. The young eagle, which is suspected to be female, was placed in a large airline crate in one of the Center’s C-pens, along with Bald Eaglet #15-0733.
The two eagles will spend a couple of days getting to know one another while #15-1261 remains in a crate; the two birds will then be allowed to interact and will likely move to a larger outdoor flight pen.
