Editor’s Note: The barred owl is part of the CROW CAW (Case A Week) series, which tells the stories of the patients at the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife on Sanibel Island, the dangers they face, and how we can help protect all of our wildlife. Read previous cases here.
In St. James City, a juvenile bald eagle was spotted in a pond, unable to move. Upon closer examination, it appeared the eagle was tangled in monofilament line attached to a duck decoy. One of the volunteer emergency responders at the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) rescued the eagle. It was transported to CROW’s wildlife hospital on Sanibel so the veterinary team could examine possible injuries. There was a bit of blood from a small wound on its wing, as well as tattered and broken blood feathers.
Fortunately, it appears there were no significant fractures or deep wounds. The veterinarians removed the broken blood feathers and treated the minor abrasions. Feathers damaged by the fishing line were carefully repaired by wetting them with hot water and pressing them with a towel, which helped reattach the barbules of the feather. The eagle demonstrated strong flight in CROW’s enclosure and was successfully released on January 31st in St. James City, where it was originally found.
There are about 1,500 nesting pairs of bald eagles in the state of Florida, the highest population density in the country behind Minnesota and Alaska, due to the abundance of water and food sources. Bald eagle nests are usually found in tall trees close to a body of water so they can easily bring food to the nest. Breeding season officially begins in October, but can start as early as September and last through May.
Bald eagles were on the brink of extinction and were officially listed as an Endangered species from 1967 to 1995. Since then, direct conservation efforts have enabled their populations to increase dramatically. They were declassified as Threatened in 1995 and officially removed from the list in 2007. However, these majestic creatures are protected under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and Migratory Bird Treaty List, and it is illegal to sell, kill, harm, or collect any part of a bald eagle, including feathers
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