DELAWARE — A young bald eagle found unable to fly along Route 17B in the Town of Delaware is recovering after two local residents captured the bird and got it into the care of a wildlife rehabilitator.
The eagle was found near an animal carcass alongside the road way. Although alert, it allowed people to approach unusually close and appeared to have difficulty with its left leg and wing.
John Zachmann contacted the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, which directed him to Friends of the Feathered & Furry Wildlife Center in Hunter. With help hours away, wildlife rehabilitator Dave Loverde recommended attempting to capture the eagle by covering it with a blanket or similar material.
Zachmann and Joel Johnson eventually secured the eagle using a hooded jacket and transported it to Johnson’s nearby residence, where a dog crate was available. Loverde arrived a few hours later and took custody of the bird.
Those at the scene suspected the eagle may have been struck by a vehicle, but Loverde found no evidence of a serious physical injury.
“She was underweight,” Loverde said. “Not quite sure exactly what was wrong. I couldn't find anything wrong with her, but apparently she was having a hard time finding food.”
Loverde identified the eagle as a young female and found no broken bones or permanent damage. While he could not rule out a vehicle strike, he said there was no evidence confirming one.
“She’s got a great appetite,” Loverde said. “She’s very aggressive, and she’s acting just like a normal eagle.”
The eagle was recovering well enough that Loverde planned to move her into a larger outdoor enclosure for the next stage of rehabilitation.