Bald eagle found after fall from nest
By Joanna Fitzgerald | Director of the von Arx Wildlife Hospital
A bald eagle was among the 86 animals admitted to the von Arx Wildlife Hospital at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida this past week.
The bald eagle fledgling was found on the ground on Marco Island. FWC officers arrived at the hospital late at night with the injured bird. The young eagle was alert but weak and showed increased respiratory effort when handled. No obvious injuries were noted during the physical exam but the bird showed signs of trauma caused by the fall from its nest.
The eagle was given pain medications, an anti-inflammatory, electrolytes, Vitamin K and placed in a large indoor recovery enclosure in the bird room at the hospital. Although easily stressed, the eagle is slowly gaining strength and has begun to eat on its own which has allowed staff to reduce handling to once a day.
Recent Releases — 23 Animals Returned Home
- 9 eastern cottontails
- 1 loggerhead shrike
- 1 Florida softshell turtle
- 1 common ground dove
- 1 eastern mud turtle
- 1 anhinga
- 1 osprey
- 1 mourning dove
- 1 gopher tortoise
- 1 eastern screech owl
- 2 Virginia opossums
- 2 grey squirrels
- 1 horned grebe
Opportunities to Help
Learn about all of the amazing volunteer opportunities at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida at our website at www.conservancy.org. Your volunteer time, as well as memberships and donations, are vital in helping us continue our work to protect Southwest Florida’s water, land, wildlife and future.
Joanna Fitzgerald is director of the von Arx Wildlife Hospital at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida. Call 239–262–2273 or see conservancy.org.
