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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Release Date: February 10, 2009
Contact: Beth Brookhouser (SPCA), 831-373-2631 or 422-4721 ext. 269
Kelly Sorenson (VWS) 831-455-9514

Injured Bald Eagle Recovering at SPCA Wildlife Center
Eagle Originally Released into the Wild by Ventana Wildlife Society

On Sunday, February 1st, an adult female Bald Eagle was found entangled in a wire fence on Fort Hunter Liggett in Monterey County. After initially being treated at Pacific Wildlife Care in Morro Bay, the eagle has now been transferred to The SPCA for Monterey County’s Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Center. The eagle, known as 5M, has deep wounds at the base of each of her wings from struggling with the fence. X-rays do not show broken bones, but her left wing is drooping.

The eagle’s rehabilitation is being followed closely by Ventana Wildlife Society, which has a vested interest in her recovery: fifteen years ago, they released her in Big Sur as a young eaglet as part of a reintroduction effort.

Bald Eagle 5M was collected from a nest in the Tongass National Forest, near Juneau Alaska, on July 22, 1993. She was 8 weeks old at the time. She was banded and given a radio transmitter on August 1, 1993. Her first flight into the wild occurred on August 16, 1993. She was part of a release of 12 eaglets that year. Ventana Wildlife Society biologists provided fish for the eaglets on a 30 foot tall hack (release) tower and tracked their initial movements away from the release site.

By November of 1993, 5M dispersed northward. VWS biologists documented her movements in and around Big Sur, Lakes San Antonio and Nacimiento in each of the two subsequent years and their last sighting was in late 1995, at which time the radio transmitter she was carrying most likely ceased to function. Today, Bald Eagle 5M is 16 years old.

"I was personally involved with the release of 5M when I was working as a field biologist for Ventana Wildlife Society", says Executive Director Kelly Sorenson. "It is just an an amazing feeling to know that this eagle survived all these years. I just hope she can once again fly free. The story of eagle 5M is extraordinary and one that shows just how successful a reintroduction effort in combination with a wildlife rehabilitation program can work well together.”

Currently, The SPCA Wildlife Center is feeding the eagle by tongs and giving her intramuscular antibiotics twice daily. They have also been keeping her hydrated with subcutaneous fluids.

“It’s unfortunate to see such a magnificent animal injured like this,” says Rosanna Leighton, SPCA Wildlife Center Supervisor. “Like all the animals we rescue, we are going to do what is best for her and we hope to get her back out into the wild where she belongs.”

Ventana Wildlife Society: In California alone there are 130 species of animals in the wild threatened or endangered with extinction. Ventana Wildlife Society is committed to conserving native wildlife and their habitats. Ventana Wildlife Society released 70 Bald Eagles to central California in the 1980's and 90's and began reintroducing California Condors in 1997. Rather than dwelling on past mistakes that brought many of our wild animals to the brink, we focus on the present. We recover individual species and track the populations of many others so that conservation can be timely as well as effective. Focusing on youth education, we better ensure that future generations have the willingness and capacity to help wildlife. Our vision is to have a society who cares for and supports wildlife across the planet, particularly in California. Online at www.ventanaws.org

The SPCA for Monterey County: The SPCA for Monterey County is a nonprofit, independent, donor-supported humane society that has been serving the animals and people of Monterey County since 1905. They shelter homeless, neglected and abused pets and livestock, and provide humane education and countless other services to the community. They are the local agency you call to investigate animal cruelty, rescue and rehabilitate injured wildlife, and aid domestic animals in distress. The SPCA Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Center is the only full service wildlife rehabilitation center serving Monterey County. The SPCA Wildlife Center’s professional staff operates under permits from the California Department of Fish & Game and rescues over 2,600 wild animals every year. Online at www.SPCAmc.org.

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