“I knew right away something was wrong.”
This past December, a Pennsylvania farm owner was spending the holidays with her family when an unusual discovery interrupted their celebrations. One of the children spotted a motionless bird in the pasture and quickly alerted the farm owner. Concerned, she reached out to Raven Ridge Wildlife Center for guidance.
Over the phone, she speculated that the bird might be an eagle. Rescuers at Raven Ridge were initially skeptical—many people mistake hawks, vultures, and other large birds for eagles. However, when she sent over photos, the truth became clear: the injured bird was indeed a juvenile bald eagle.
With the family’s help, wildlife rehabilitator Tracie Young carefully secured the eagle and transported him to safety.
“He was surprisingly easy to catch,” Young told The Dodo. “I knew right away something wasn’t right.”
Upon closer inspection, she noticed the bird was missing several tail feathers—a troubling sign. Back at the rescue center, tests confirmed he was suffering from lead poisoning, likely the result of scavenging contaminated food or a collision with a vehicle.
The Raven Ridge team quickly implemented a treatment plan. Since the eagle can’t fly without his tail feathers, he’ll remain at the center until they regrow.
“He’ll probably be with us until spring,” Young explained. “When he’s ready, we’ll take him back to the exact location where he was found, so he can return to familiar territory.”
In the meantime, the eagle will continue his rehabilitation in a flight cage, where he can regain strength.
According to Young, the bird has developed quite the appetite.
“He’s eating us out of house and home,” she joked.
But for the rescue team, every meal is a small step toward his recovery. Soon enough, he’ll be soaring through the skies once more—right where he belongs.