SPCA's golden eagle faces surgery

[Donna]

A golden eagle held at the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Center will be transferred to Davis today for a checkup and possible surgery on an injured shoulder, officials said Monday.

"We don't know if it's a dislocation or a break," said Beth Brookhouser, director of community outreach for the SPCA of Monterey County. "But there is definitely something wrong."

The 8-pound male eagle was found Saturday lying in a vineyard near Soledad and was first reported as a hawk, said Rosanna Leighton, wildlife center supervisor. The person who found the animal took the bird home and reported the finding to the SPCA wildlife staff.

As of Monday, Leighton said, it's unknown what caused the injury to the bird.

The eagle, which officials said was not tagged, was resting in a large crate Monday, waiting to be transported to the California Raptor Center at the University of California, Davis, for possible "specialized" surgery today.

Bird is found near Soledad with possible broken shoulder

"It's OK. It's just resting," she said. "There's a rat in the crate for when it gets hungry. We just wanted to provide a nice, quiet, safe place."

The golden eagle is one of the largest birds of prey in North America; only the bald eagle and California condor get larger.

Leighton said it's not every day the SPCA wildlife group comes across an injured eagle.

In February, an injured adult female bald eagle was transferred from Pacific Wildlife Care in Morro Bay to be treated at the SPCA wildlife facility.

"[Treating the golden eagle] is very special for us to see and we're happy to help," she said. "We'll be rooting for it."

[Annette]

Hi,

hopefully, the eagle is soon healthy.


Greetings
Annette

[valhalla]

Different eagle, but I saw our favorite Bald Eagle, Challenger on Fox and Friends this morning.  He was off to thank our Veterans in NYC.  Challenger was talking his head off - both on and off camera!