An eaglet on the Department of Natural Resources'(DNR) EagleCam that disappeared earlier this week has been located and is in good health.
The update from the DNR comes after multiple viewers reached out inquiring about the missing eaglet. DNR staff visited the site and found the eaglet on the ground; it was uninjured and appeared very mobile.
According to the DNR, the eaglet is in an area where its parents can easily spot it and should still be able to feed it as it grows.
The DNR is unsure exactly how the eaglet ended up on the ground at this time. It is possible that the severe weather earlier this week may have caused it to be blown off the nest, or that the eaglet went down of its own volition as it attempted to fledge from the nest.
The DNR says all three eaglets have reached fledging age, so either answer is possible.
After consulting with the Minnesota Raptor Center, the decision was made to leave the eaglet as it was, as this is a common occurrence for fledging eaglets. However, the DNR said it would be monitoring the situation in the days to come.
The eaglet’s two siblings are still in the nest and can be seen “branching,” hopping from nearby branches and exploring their surroundings.
The DNR expects the other two to fledge very soon.
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