Young Bald Eagle Recovers From Near Starvation

bald eagle held in arms before release
photo by Melanie Tepper

young bald eagle in towelThe following story was shared with us by the Tamarack Wildlife Center in Pennsylvania.

A nestling bald eagle was located on the ground, emaciated and dehydrated. Nicknamed Independence, the eaglet was brought to Tamarack Wildlife Center by a Pennsylvania Game Commission officer.

We identified that the young bird did not have injuries, but was critically thin and weighed 2.5 kilograms (about 5.5 pounds). Once hydrated, EmerAid Intensive Care Carnivore was given by gavage several times a day until the eaglet was able to transition onto solid food.

Once he regained vigor and was stabilized, Independence grew rapidly. One month after his admission, weighing 4.2 kilograms (about 9.3 pounds), he began to test his flight skills. He was united with a wild foster bald eagle family with a similar-aged fledgling eaglet. Both eaglets were tended by the parents as they learned to fly and hunt.