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CONTACT: Kelly Sorenson Executive Director Ventana Wildlife Society Office 831-455-9514 |
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Release Date: March 3, 2009
Contact: Kelly Sorenson, 831-455-9514
Bald Eagle Unable to Recover, Euthanized
In early June 1993, a bald eagle egg hatched in a nest in the Tongass National Forest near Juneau, Alaska. As part of a translocation program, the chick that emerged was relocated to Big Sur, California in July of 1993 where the local population of eagles was extirpated. This eagle collected in Alaska was given a leg band, and identified as 5M. Due to the use of pesticide DDT, which caused egg failure, the number of breeding pairs of bald eagles in the lower 48 states reached a low of 417 pairs by 1963 and soon after the species was listed as endangered. However, eagles in Alaska remained abundant.
Bald eagle 5M was raised with eleven other eagles in a tall, 30-foot tower in central California and given fish every day until she and her nest mates were ready to fly for the first time. Just before her release we attached a radio transmitter using a backpack harness so we could track her fate. On August 1, 1993 5M took her first flight. As expected she returned to the release tower after her release to receive the fish Ventana Wildlife Society biologists were giving her by placing on the tower before dawn. Each day, biologists recorded the whereabouts of each eagle until they dispersed away. 5M traveled north in the fall of 1993 to places unknown but she returned each year for several years. We believe she began to breed in the area by 2002 and raised nine chicks.
On February 1, 2009, 5M was found entangled in a fence on Fort Hunter Liggett Military Reservation. A military police officer removed her from the fence and called Pacific Wildlife Care who initially treated her. From there, 5M was transferred to the SPCA for Monterey County and veterinarian Dr. Amy Wells and SPCA staff treated her wounds. Both wings were badly injured. University of California at Davis' Raptor Center was called to help and she was transferred one last time. Veterinarian Dr. Michelle Hawkins supervised 5M's treatment. Unfortunately, the wing and tendon damage was just too much. Not only would she never fly again but she would have required a type of wing amputation that is inhumane and so she was euthanized on March 2, 2009. “While it was incredibly difficult decision for us, we felt that her prognosis was poor and that we should not prolong the suffering of this majestic bird”, said Dr. Hawkins. Kelly Sorenson, Executive Director of Ventana Wildlife Society said, “5M was among the first to breed in central California after a 60-year absence and because of her success she won’t be the last. 5M led a full life and contributed to her species' survival and recovery in the Central California Coast Region. We will remember 5M forever.”
Ventana Wildlife Society released 70 bald eagles, 5M being just one of these birds. We recover species of wildlife one individual at a time. In 2008, a total of 23 chicks were raised in wild nests in central California, bringing the total to 143 since 1995. In 2007, the bald eagle was removed from the endangered species list primarily because of the banning of DDT and successful translocation and release programs.
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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