A female bald eagle found in the woods in Forksville, Bradford County, is receiving care for lead poisoning at Red Creek Wildlife Center in Wayne Township
“I believe that it was circling on the ground and unable to fly,” said Kaley Eagan, a licensed wildlife rehabilitator.
Eagan was at Red Creek when the approximately 4-year-old eagle was dropped off Jan. 28 from a rehabilitator at Owl Hollow Wildlife Center, Columbia County.
She described the bird as a bit lethargic and having trouble with its balance. A test ruled out highly pathogenic avian influenza.
A test performed at Red Creek confirmed lead levels too high for the test to read, Eagan said.
Weighing about 8½ pounds, the eagle is a little underweight , mainly due to lead toxicology, Eagan said. She said adult female eagles can weigh up to 13 pounds.
The eagle has been receiving fluids and medicine. Each round of calcium EDTA, which rids the body of lead, costs $450, said Peggy Hentz, founder and director of Red Creek.
Hentz said there could be two scenarios that cause lead poisoning this time of year: The bird could have ingested lead, probably from a deer; or the eagle was preparing to lay eggs and lead accumulated as the body depleted calcium stores to make the eggs.
Hentz said she didn’t know if the eagle was about to lay eggs.
This is the first eagle that the center has cared for in 2024. Last year it cared for six bald eagles — four were released and two were euthanized because their injuries were too severe.
Eagle found
Allison Rusinko, a licensed wildlife rehabilitator with Owl Hollow Wildlife Center, said she was notified about the eagle by Mark Catalano of rescue organization Wildlife in Need. Bradford County Game Commission Officer Gabe Everette captured the eagle and gave it to Nancy Sakowski, a WIN volunteer. She then drove the raptor to the center in Columbia County.
“It was super stressed out,” Rusinko said.
After letting the eagle rest for a day, she took it to Red Creek.
Source: Berkshire mont
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