PASS CHRISTIAN, Miss. (WLOX) – Two bald eagles rescued on Christmas Day and brought to Wild at Heart had vastly different outcomes in their recovery journeys.<\/p>\n
The eagles, named Kris and Kringle, were both rescued within one hour of each other on Christmas Day. Kris, the female, is expected to make a full recovery. However, Kringle, the male, had to be euthanized.<\/p>\n
Kringle\u2019s condition deteriorates<\/p>\n
After X-rays, veterinarians determined Kringle had likely suffered a previous injury that forced him to rely on roadkill for food. The lack of proper nutrition caused his bones to weaken over time.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m thinking it got rear ended by some car because it was eating roadkill. It had a fractured back and spine at about the lumbar region. After the days and weeks they\u2019ve been doing rehab on it, it just didn\u2019t improve and it was not going to make it any better,\u201d said Dr. James Askew, Wild at Heart veterinarian.<\/p>\n
Kringle\u2019s spine was broken in three places and had deteriorated almost completely.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe couldn\u2019t really move. He was just stationary and it just wasn\u2019t a good thing, it was kind of heartbreaking,\u201d said Melissa Cole, Kringle\u2019s caretaker.<\/p>\n
Missy Dubuisson, Wild at Heart founder and director, said she has witnessed eagles passing away in a way that reflects their proud nature.<\/p>\n
\u201cI have actually witnessed when an eagle is going to pass away, the saddest thing ever, they literally will pass away standing up and then they just fall over later. They are that, that proud. And it\u2019s no wonder they\u2019re the symbol of, you know, freedom,\u201d Dubuisson said.<\/p>\n
Kris shows promise for recovery<\/p>\n
Kris is recovering and may be released back into the wild.<\/p>\n
\u201cShe\u2019s recovering and hopefully can be released,\u201d said Jennifer Wingate, Kris\u2019s caretaker. \u201cThat\u2019s what he said. He said once we get her another dewormer and a little bit more weight on her, we\u2019ll get her going,\u201d Dubuisson added.<\/p>\n
Kris\u2019s next step is the eagle flight cage, where she will relearn how to fly and rebuild her wing strength before being released back into the wild.<\/p>\n
\u201cGetting them back out is truly a triumph,\u201d Dubuisson said.<\/p>\n
Wild at Heart says they will notify the public when Kris is ready for release.<\/p>\n
Bald eagles eat about two pounds of meat a day. Wild at Heart is currently accepting monetary donations, as well as deer organs, discarded game parts, fish, and other meat to help care for injured wildlife.<\/p>\n