| Rehabilitation Efforts and Releases |
Release of Bald Eagle 3-04
Bald eagle 3-04 came into the Raptor Center on January 15, 2004 from an area north of
Helena, having been picked up the afternoon before by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. The
bird was exhibiting signs of acute poisoning. It had been feeding on a euthanized horse carcass
that was not disposed of properly (either by incineration of burying). Though there is no
antidote to the ingestion of Phenobarbital, this eagle was saved by the quick actions of the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service and immediate triage at the Raptor Center.
Treatments involved tube feeding a charcoal solution to absorb the toxins, copious amounts of
subcutaneous fluids, atropine injections, and tong feeding until the bird was eating on its own.
Recovery was rapid and the eagle moved to the large flight-reconditioning cage on its third day
at the Center. This release was carried out on January 22, 2004, one week after the eagle was
admitted.
Short video of Release.
Pictures of some of the data collection and preparations done before release of a bird:
Bald eagle 3-04 came into the Raptor Center on January 15, 2004 from an area north of
Helena, having been picked up the afternoon before by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. The
bird was exhibiting signs of acute poisoning. It had been feeding on a euthanized horse carcass
that was not disposed of properly (either by incineration of burying). Though there is no
antidote to the ingestion of Phenobarbital, this eagle was saved by the quick actions of the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service and immediate triage at the Raptor Center.
Treatments involved tube feeding a charcoal solution to absorb the toxins, copious amounts of
subcutaneous fluids, atropine injections, and tong feeding until the bird was eating on its own.
Recovery was rapid and the eagle moved to the large flight-reconditioning cage on its third day
at the Center. This release was carried out on January 22, 2004, one week after the eagle was
admitted.
Short video of Release.
Pictures of some of the data collection and preparations done before release of a bird:
| Beak is measured. |
| Leg is measured. |
| Tail is measured. |
| Wingspan is measured. |
| Bird is banded. |