Young Eagle is Saved, Healed, and Released to Join New Family!

Article written by Keith Gushard and originally published in the Meadville Tribune on July 12, 2024 

A young bald eagle is now part of a new eagle family following successful treatment for a broken wing at Tamarack Wildlife Center of Saegertown. Neeake, whose name means “Talker” in Shawnee, took flight Wednesday in Venango County after a six-week rehabilitation, said Carol Holmgren, executive director of Tamarack Wildlife Center.

In late May, Neeake was about nine weeks old when he fell from his nest in Armstrong County, breaking a bone in his wing as a result, Holmgren said. Initially admitted at Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh, the injured bird was quickly transferred to Tamarack Wildlife Center, which specializes in treating injured eagles.

Neeake’s broken wing was first splinted to support the healing process, Holmgren said. Neeake then received physical therapy sessions to regain a full range of motion as his healing progressed, she said. Once the broken wing healed, Neeake was moved to an eagle flight aviary to practice flight skills, she said.

Wednesday afternoon’s release in northern Venango County was on a property that has an eagle’s nest with one recently fledged eaglet, Holmgren said. Neeake’s new parents were soaring overhead when he was released on the property, located about 6 miles north of Utica in Venango County and 12 miles southeast of Cochranton in Crawford County.

Releasing Neeake to bond with a new eagle family came about from an unexpected tragedy in the Venango County eagle family, Holmgren said. “The family actually had two eaglets but lost one of its young on Tuesday when it was struck by a vehicle while it was scavenging,” Holmgren said.

The injured Venango County eaglet, a 15-week-old female, was taken to Tamarack, but its injuries were too extensive, Holmgren said. In addition, the deceased eaglet had significant levels of lead in her blood, according to Holmgren. “(It was) enough to cause her to have reduced reaction time and cause her to fly at a lower height, which could have contributed to her being hit by a vehicle,” Holmgren said of the lead level in its blood.

“Neeake also is 15 weeks old, so it was a good fit with the family,” Holmgren said. “We appreciate the Pennsylvania Game Commission moving quickly to give us permission to release Neeake.”

Holmgren said the adult eagles easily will be able to tend to the two young eaglets as they will assume responsibility for any eaglet in their nest area. Young eagles typically are 10 to 14 weeks old when they fledge, or first start to fly, but don’t leave their nest until 17 to 23 weeks, Holmgren said.

YOU CAN HELP

Tamarack Wildlife Center offers several suggestions how the public may assist eagles. They are:

• Slow down if there is an eagle or other large raptor feeding in or near a road to give the bird time to move and avoid a collision.
• Use non-lead ammunition when hunting or bury remains of dispatched animals left in the field if using ammunition containing lead. Eagles and other raptors are smart and will scavenge hunted remains as an easy source of food, but may become ill if the remains contain fragments of lead.

If someone sees an eagle believed sick or injured, take a photo and contact both the Pennsylvania Game Commission, toll-free, at (833) 742-4868 or (833) 742-9453 and leave a message for Tamarack Wildlife Center at (814) 763-2574. The Pennsylvania Game Commission likes to capture eagles when needed, rather than the public, due to the birds’ power. The Game Commission will enlist the assistance of Tamarack Wildlife Center or a wildlife capture organization. Contacting Tamarack allows for preparation for the eagle’s admission, and evaluating the photos for evidence of what may be wrong.

DID YOU KNOW?

Bald eagles may live up to 35 years in the wild, according to the Tamarack Wildlife Center. The cost to treat an injured eagle for one month is $3,000 including medical testing, medical treatment, medications, diet, and specialized housing.