Accomack Bald Eagle
PATIENT: Bald Eagle, #11-2393
LOCATION OF RESCUE:Accomack County, Virginia
CONDITION: Thin, Dehydrated
ADMISSION DATE: September 20, 2011
PROGNOSIS: Guarded
BAEA 11-2393On September 19, the Wildlife Center admitted Bald Eagle #11-2393. The adult Bald Eagle was rescued on September 17 by a permitted wildlife rehabilitator in Accomack County after a concerned citizen spotted the downed bird near a coastal marsh. Volunteer transporters brought the eagle to the Center on September 19.
Bald Eagle #11-2393 arrived with superficial injuries on its right and left carpi–which are basically the eagle’s wrists–and these wounds combined with its tattered tail feathers and relatively dirty feet led the Center’s veterinary staff to conclude that the eagle had been down for a few days or more. Dr. Miranda Sadar and Dr. Adam Naylor performed a physical examination of the bird and determined that it was thin and suffering from dehydration; they were not able to identify immediate signs of any further physical trauma.
#11-2393 was given subcutaneous injections of fluids to reduce its dehydration and the veterinary staff scheduled radiographs for September 20. Because the physical examination did not reveal any obvious injuries, the veterinarians hoped that the radiographs and blood work would provide more information that could help explain the circumstances under which the eagle was found.
On September 20, Dr. Miranda and Dr. Dave McRuer studied the initial radiographs of the Bald Eagle and did not identify any obvious abnormalities; the staff veterinarians are now hoping that the results from the blood work that was collected Tuesday morning will offer more insight. Until then, #11-2393 remains in an indoor enclosure at the Center and will be monitored closely by staff members.
#11-2393 arrived at the center with state and federal identification bands. Center staff have submitted all of the appropriate information to
www.reportband.gov and are now waiting for details on the Bald Eagle. As soon as more information becomes available on this particular adult eagle, it will listed here as an update.
September 22 update
Bald Eagle #11-2393 is showing some signs of improvement. Center rehabilitation staff members have reported that the eagle is now eating on its own and perching within its pen. The superficial wounds on its carpi are healing and scabbing. The blood work that staff veterinarians analyzed on September 21 did not show any signs of internal inflammation; however, a fecal analysis did reveal that the eagle has parasites. As a result, #11-2393 was prescribed an antiparasitic medication which will now be administered daily.
Staff veterinarians will take additional radiographs and blood work at the beginning of next week. In the meantime, the Bald Eagle remains under observation.
September 29 update
The superficial injuries on Bald Eagle #11-2393’s carpi have scabbed and appear to be healing cleanly; however, the Center’s veterinary staff have examined the radiographs taken of the Bald Eagle more closely and think that there may be more significant damage to the eagle’s carpi than they initially suspected. To see if this has any effect on the eagle’s ability to fly, Dr. Adam Naylor recommended that #11-2393 be moved to an outdoor enclosure in order to allow the Center’s veterinary and rehabilitation staff the opportunity to observe it move about freely. The eagle was relocated yesterday afternoon to one of the Center’s smaller flight pens and will remain there under close observation until further notice.
The Wildlife Center has also received information back on Bald Eagle #11-2393’s band. This particular eagle was treated in late December of 2010 by the Eastern Shore Animal Hospitalfor soft tissue injuries on its carpi and scapula. After it received initial treatment, it was cared for by a permitted rehabilitator until it was banded and released in early January of this year by the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries. This is the first time it has been in recorded contact with humans since its release.
October 12 update
Since moving to a small outdoor enclosure, Bald Eagle #11-2393 has been spotted with a pronounced right wing droop. The staff veterinarians prescribed a 10-day course of anti-inflammatories to see if that would have any affect on how the eagle holds its wing. After no changes were seen, the medication was discontinued.
On October 10, an additional set of radiographs were taken — but the veterinary team was unable to pinpoint a reason why the eagle continues to droop its wing. Dr. Miranda decided to see what the eagle would do in a larger space, so the bird was moved into a 45-foot-long flight enclosure. While the perches were lowered at first, the Bald Eagle has demonstrated that it can fly despite the wing droop, so the rehabilitation staff raised the perches to a regular height. The staff will continue to monitor the eagle regularly for changes.
More below on the next Eagle
Show Posts
Too
