Young Bald Eagle Makes Incredible Recovery

The following story about a bald eagle was submitted by Wild At Heart Wildlife Sanctuary in North Carolina.

On May 12, 2021, a hatch year, male bald eagle was admitted to our sanctuary with avian pox. The eagle was severely emaciated, dehydrated, and lethargic. The eagle was a small bird overall. His weight was 1,795 grams (about 4 pounds), keel score 1.

We started emaciation protocol. After 24 hours we started tube-feeding EmerAid IC Carnivore. The eagle was tube-fed three times a day for three weeks. He refused to eat and vomited any food we force-fed.

Finally, his body started to fight the pox virus, and one day he decided to eat. There were literal tears of joy from our staff. Three weeks is a really long time to keep an emaciated bird alive that refuses solid foods.

He gained approximately 250 grams (about half a pound) while on EmerAid IC Carnivore.

Once he started eating, everything progressed. He stayed in quarantine until all pox lesions were healed. Flight training began shortly after.

He was released with another hatch year bald eagle on September 11. His final weigh-in was 2,895 grams (about 6.4 pounds) with a keel score of 4. The pictures are from his intake and release.