On October 2, animal control officers in Portsmouth, Virginia answered a call about two adult Bald Eagles down on the ground with their talons locked together. The two eagles were likely engaged in a territorial dispute. A Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries officer responded to the situation; when the officer approached the two eagles, one of the birds flew away. The remaining injured bird was captured and transported to Nature's Nanny Wildlife Rehabilitation, where the eagle was stabilized before being transferred to the Wildlife Center.
Bald Eagle #16-2217 was bright, alert, and feisty during the initial exam at the Wildlife Center. The bird was in good body condition, but had suffered lacerations on the left half of the chest and right shoulder as well as minor abrasions near the eyes and legs. Radiographs also showed signs of internal trauma.
The veterinary team cleaned the wounds on the shoulder, head, and legs, and sutured the laceration on the chest. They administered pain medication and started the bird on antibiotics the following morning to prevent infection in the abrasions and lacerations.
Staff will monitor the eagle's attitude and the healing progress of the chest laceration and other wounds. The team hopes that the bird will be able to be released after a relatively short stay at the Wildlife Center.