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Eagle Gets Wing Surgery After Traffic Rescue

The Audobon Center for Birds of Prey

The bird, a 4-year-old male, had a compound fracture of its left wing and underwent surgery Wednesday afternoon.

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By KEITH MORELLI | The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 27, 2008

Updated: 08/27/2008 04:29 pm

BAY PINES - A young bald eagle, possibly injured when it struck a power line, was rescued from traffic near the Bay Pines veterans hospital and taken to a treatment center in Orange County for surgery.

"He's doing well," said Lynda White, spokeswoman with the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey in Maitland.

The bird, a 4-year-old male, had a compound fracture of its left wing and underwent surgery Wednesday afternoon.

"These kinds of fractures are really serious, but we have an excellent vet who surgically repaired it today," White said.

It's not clear yet whether the bird can be returned to the wild.

"Right now, it is watch and wait," White said. "At least his life was saved and at least his wing was saved."

Passers-by called the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission to report the injured eagle Tuesday afternoon. Callers said it was hopping around on a street near the Bay Pines VA Medical Center, 10000 Bay Pines Blvd.

Fish and Wildlife called the private Wildlife Rescue and Rehab shelter in nearby Seminole for help, said the shelter's Vernon Yates.

"It was directly straight across from Bay Pines hospital," Yates said. "It looked like he clipped a power line."

Yates found the struggling raptor, picked it up and transported it to the Suncoast Seabird Sanctuary in Indian Shores. "He fluttered a little bit," Yates said, "but we grabbed him by his legs, and that was it."

The eagle was treated and stabilized at the seabird sanctuary, spokeswoman Michelle Simoneau said. It was taken from there to Maitland for treatment at the Audubon Center which specializes in veterinary treatment for such birds.

"The eagle is doing pretty good," Simoneau said. "He had a pretty severely broken wing. But it looks like he's going to make it."

Reporter Keith Morelli can be reached at (813) 259-7760 or kmorelli@tampatrib.com.

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