Lake Metroparks successfully releases rehabilitated American bald eagle to the wild

An American bald eagle was brought to the Lake Metroparks Wildlife Center by ODNR Division of Wildlife officer Scott Denamon April 1, 2013. The eagle was found in the Chagrin River at Pleasant Valley Park Willoughby Hills. The eagle’s injuries included soft tissue damage in the right wing. It also displayed a wing droop in the same wing.

Lake Metroparks Wildlife Center trained staff provided professional supportive care, physical therapy and exercise in flight cage. The eagle recently performed well during a recent creance (flight in field using tether), and the staff felt confident that his release would be successful.

 

Lake Metroparks Wildlife Center is currently caring for three American bald eagles, which underscores the success story of the improving numbers of this once Federally Endangered species.  The other injured bird has a broken wing and still recovering from surgery. 

The third bird is our permanent resident, Apollo, a juvenile eagle, not yet white in the head and tail, with a permanent wing injury He was hatched from a Lake County nest on private properly and is not able to be released due to his wing injury. Apollo is on display in the wildlife center yard at Penitentiary Glen Reservation daily.

Click to watch release of Bald Eagle on YouTube