On April 18, an adult female Bald Eagle was found on the banks of the Potomac River in Alexandria, Virginia. A private citizen noticed that the eagle was injured and called Animal Control of Fairfax County. An officer quickly responded to the scene and transported the eagle to a local animal clinic where the staff cleaned the eagle’s wounds, administered fluids, and provided pain medication. The eagle was transported and admitted to the Wildlife Center as patient #15-0355 on April 19.
Veterinary intern Dr. Meghan Feeney performed the eagle’s initial exam. Upon admission, the eagle was standing but had a marked left wing droop and was lame in the right leg. Further examination revealed that the eagle was dehydrated and had a fractured left ulna (wing) with some soft tissue swelling. On the bird’s right leg, there was an abrasion and bruising, and both feet presented with mild abrasions.
Radiographs confirmed that the right tibiotarsus (leg) was also fractured. The vet staff cleaned the eagle’s wounds, splinted the fractured leg, and applied a bandage and body wrap to the left wing.
On April 20, further radiographs were performed to determine the severity of the ulnar fracture. If minimally displaced (if the bones are not severely misaligned) the fracture could be managed conservatively with bandaging; otherwise, the eagle would require surgery to repair the fracture. Radiographs showed that the fracture is minimally displaced and the veterinary staff will likely move forward with a conservative plan for treatment.
At this time, the veterinary staff plans to manage the bird with a left-wing bandage and a right-leg splint. Radiographs will be taken the first week of May to determine how well the eagle is healing.
Your special donation will help the Center to provide care to this Bald Eagle … and all of the patients admitted in 2015. Please help!