Bald Eagle #15-2199 Update

On the evening February 2, the veterinary staff picked up Bald Eagle #15-2199 for afternoon treatments. When the staff removed the bird from her crate, they found that one of the ESF pins had fallen out. Shortly after the veterinary staff restrained the eagle in order to perform the bird’s evening treatments, Bald Eagle #15-2199 struggled and the entire ESF apparatus came off.

The staff cleaned the pin sites and sent a sample swab to an outside lab to test for a possible infection in the bone. Dr. Helen took radiographs to check that the fracture site was still stable and found that the bones were static. The bird was started on a regimen of pain medication and an antibiotic to combat possible bone infection before she was returned to her crate in hold.

During the next three days, Bald Eagle #15-2199 began to place more weight on her left leg and the pin sites began to slowly heal. On February 5, lab results returned and indicated a mild infection that was immune from the eagle’s current antibiotic. Dr. Dana placed the bird on a different antibiotic that would effectively treat the infection and continued to clean and monitor the pin sites.

On February 8, Dr. Dana took follow-up radiographs and found the fracture site was stable. Bald Eagle #15-2199 continues to favor her left leg, but is showing gradual improvement and bearing more weight on the leg each day. The veterinary staff will continue to monitor the bird’s progress and clean the pin sites daily.