SEQUIM — A juvenile bald eagle that was shot in the left wing last week underwent surgery Wednesday to treat the wound.
“The veterinarians at Greywolf Veterinary Hospital have successfully cleaned and treated the wound,” said Matthew Randazzo, spokesman for the Northwest Raptor & Wildlife Center of Sequim.
“No bullet fragments were recovered.
“Due to a bad reaction to anesthesia earlier in the week, the eagle was not entirely ‘put under’ during this operation.
“It was painful, but he is a fighter and is doing well.”
The young bird, which was born in the summer, remained in stable condition in intensive care.
“We’re optimistic but won’t know more for a few days while we wait to see if the fractured ulna bone in the left wing can begin to heal itself,” Randazzo said.
If veterinarians determine that the wing won’t heal naturally, then they may perform surgery on the wing to help close the gap in the bone, Randazzo has said.
“This will be a long process, and it may be months before we know for sure if he will ever fly in the wild again.”
Because the bird is a juvenile, its coloring is brown. It hasn’t yet developed the trademark white feathers of adult bald eagles.
Both the Raptor Center and the state Department of Fish and Wildlife are seeking tips on who shot the bird in a field near Beaver on Dec. 15.
“Tips are continuing to come in, and the investigation is ongoing,” Randazzo said.
“No one has been arrested yet, but we are very optimistic about the eventual outcome.”
Bald eagles are protected under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, according to U.S. Fish and Wildlife.
A first-offense violation of the act can result in a fine of $100,000, imprisonment for one year or both. Penalties increase for additional offenses, and a second violation of the act is a felony.
Tips may be reported to the center by e-mailing Randazzo at Matthew@NWRaptorCenter.com and by phoning state Fish and Wildlife at 877-933-9847.
For more information on the Raptor Center, visit www.facebook.com/northwestraptorcenter.
