Last September, the folks at Raven Ridge Wildlife Center (RRWC) received a call for help from a woman named Brittany and her dad, Ken. Brittany expressed concern about a bald eagle she’d seen in her neighborhood, who seemed to be acting uncharacteristically.
“She sent us photos and explained that she and her father … had observed the eagle around their property, walking along paths, hopping through the woods and even swimming and drying off under a bridge,” RRWC wrote on Facebook.
Facebook/Raven Ridge Wildlife Center
At first, the RRWC staff wasn’t too worried about the eagle’s behavior.
“Initially, this seemed like normal behavior for a juvenile eagle exploring [his] surroundings,” RRWC wrote.
The staff asked Brittany to just keep an eye on the eagle, assuming he was OK. It wasn’t until Brittany called back a few days later that they became genuinely concerned.
“The eagle appeared to be struggling,” RRWC wrote. “[He] couldn’t fly, gain any altitude, or reach high tree branches; [he] seemed to be tripping and stumbling through the woods.”
Facebook/Raven Ridge Wildlife Center
That’s when RRWC decided to take the bird in for an evaluation. After trapping the eagle themselves, Brittany and Ken drove him straight to RRWC’s headquarters, where he quickly received the attention he needed.
When they first saw the eagle, RRWC’s veterinary staff worried that he might be sicker than they initially thought.
“Our rehabilitator feared the worst, suspecting the eagle might be suffering from lead poisoning and would need treatment,” RRWC wrote.
Facebook/Raven Ridge Wildlife Center
Thankfully, a thorough examination revealed that the eagle had no traces of lead. But he was underweight and extremely dehydrated, so the folks on RRWC started him on a treatment plan to help restore his strength.
After four months of care and rehabilitation, the eagle finally regained his ability to fly and was deemed strong enough to return to the wild. As part of their eagle release program, the RRWC staff picked a date to set the bird free and a veteran to assist the process.
The honoree chosen for this eagle’s release, U.S. Navy veteran Mr. Rinehart, joined the RRWC staff on the fateful day, excited to see the rehabilitated bird soar. And just as they’d hoped, the bird took off as soon as they opened the cage door.
You can see images of the eagle being released here:
Once flightless, the eagle soared above his rescuers’ heads with the wind rippling through his feathers. Finally, he was home, and his rescuers couldn’t have been more pleased by the outcome.
While the folks at RRWC work tirelessly to care for injured wildlife in the area, they’re grateful for the public’s support, which helps them save even more animals each year.
“Many thanks to Britney and Ken for keeping an eye on this eagle and bringing it to us for rehabilitation, as it would not have survived otherwise,” RRWC wrote. “We are grateful to Mr. Rinehart for joining us on this special day and for his service.”
To help wildlife like this bald eagle get the care they need, you can donate to Raven Ridge Wildlife Center here.
Cuddly Cat Meets A 3-Foot-Tall Skeleton Decoration — And Falls Instantly In Love“I will never in my entire life be over this” 🥹