Posted by Wayne G. Barber
On Saturday, January 23, 2015, Masswildlife’s Information and Education Chief Marion Larson was alerted to a report of a potentially injured adult bald eagle in her home town of Sterling. A landowner, Anthony (Tony) Papandrea had seen the bird on the ground on his property and observing it in the same spot after a couple of hours, he called the local Animal Control Officer. The bird wouldn't fly, but easily eluded the lone ACO. Fortunately Tony who is a Sergeant with the West Boylston Police Department had taken some pictures of the bird and shared them with the staff. A dispatcher who knew the bird was on the state endangered species list was able to connect with Marion that evening. After conferring with colleagues on bird capturing tips, Marion made arrangements to meet the landowner the next morning.
Sunday morning, soon after Tony relocated the bird in the woods, Marion and her husband Dr. Scott Handler, a veterinarian with experience handling raptors, arrived on the scene with leather gloves, blankets and animal crate in tow. The would-be captors made their way down a steep, snowy forested hill. The eagle tried to sneak away, bounding and hopping through the brush and trees, but after 15 minutes of crashing through barberry bushes and clambering over and around downed trees, the three managed to maneuver the eagle near a blow down where blankets were tossed over the raptor’s head and body. The leather-gloved veterinarian then further wrapped the bird to protect himself from the bird’s huge talons and large yellow beak, and safely placed the bird, blankets and all, into the crate. From there, they transported the eagle to the Tufts Wildlife Clinic at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine in Grafton where it was weighed, provided fluids and pain medication and housed in a quiet, covered cage.
The next day, a more detailed medical examination of the eagle revealed a dislocated coracoid (a bone that attaches to the sternum) which indicated the bird likely struck something with a hard impact. The dislocation prevented the bird from flying. One possible source of impact might have been high tension power lines located only a few hundred yards from the landowner’s home. Dr. Florina Tseng, Director of the Wildlife Clinic said veterinarians bandaged the bird’s wing to its body to stabilize the injury. Treatment will include supportive care: food, fluids, pain medication and rest.
Whenever possible, MassWildlife has been banding (placing metal leg bands) young eaglets before they leave their nest. This eagle sports a silver federal leg band and a Massachusetts gold leg band. MassWildlife’s records indicate this bird was banded as a chick (along with another sibling) by MassWildlife in June of 2010 (nearly 6 years ago) at a nest site in the Petersham portion of the Quabbin Reservoir. Based on its size and weight, biologists and veterinarians believe the eagle is an adult male.MassWildlife would like to thank Sergeant Anthony Papandrea for his concern and assistance during the capture, West Boylston dispatcher Sandra Luthman for making the connection to the agency and to Dr. Scott Handler, (Tufts V’88) for his assistance. Kudos to the Tufts Wildlife Clinic for their care of the eagle. Anyone wishing to contribute to the care of this eagle or other wildlife brought to the Bernice Barbour Wildlife Clinic is welcome to do so as the Clinic cannot charge for the care of wildlife. To make a donation go to:
tuftsgiving.org. At Select a School, choose Cummings Veterinary and in Select An Area, choose Wildlife Program and complete the rest of the form. Source: Mass Fish and Wildlife and public Facebook share Photos
On Saturday, January 23, 2015, Masswildlife’s Information and Education Chief Marion Larson was alerted to a report of a potentially injured adult bald eagle in her home town of Sterling. A landowner, Anthony (Tony) Papandrea had seen the bird on the ground on his property and observing it in the same spot after a couple of hours, he called the local Animal Control Officer. The bird wouldn't fly, but easily eluded the lone ACO. Fortunately Tony who is a Sergeant with the West Boylston Police Department had taken some pictures of the bird and shared them with the staff. A dispatcher who knew the bird was on the state endangered species list was able to connect with Marion that evening. After conferring with colleagues on bird capturing tips, Marion made arrangements to meet the landowner the next morning.
Sunday morning, soon after Tony relocated the bird in the woods, Marion and her husband Dr. Scott Handler, a veterinarian with experience handling raptors, arrived on the scene with leather gloves, blankets and animal crate in tow. The would-be captors made their way down a steep, snowy forested hill. The eagle tried to sneak away, bounding and hopping through the brush and trees, but after 15 minutes of crashing through barberry bushes and clambering over and around downed trees, the three managed to maneuver the eagle near a blow down where blankets were tossed over the raptor’s head and body. The leather-gloved veterinarian then further wrapped the bird to protect himself from the bird’s huge talons and large yellow beak, and safely placed the bird, blankets and all, into the crate. From there, they transported the eagle to the Tufts Wildlife Clinic at the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine in Grafton where it was weighed, provided fluids and pain medication and housed in a quiet, covered cage.
The next day, a more detailed medical examination of the eagle revealed a dislocated coracoid (a bone that attaches to the sternum) which indicated the bird likely struck something with a hard impact. The dislocation prevented the bird from flying. One possible source of impact might have been high tension power lines located only a few hundred yards from the landowner’s home. Dr. Florina Tseng, Director of the Wildlife Clinic said veterinarians bandaged the bird’s wing to its body to stabilize the injury. Treatment will include supportive care: food, fluids, pain medication and rest.
Whenever possible, MassWildlife has been banding (placing metal leg bands) young eaglets before they leave their nest. This eagle sports a silver federal leg band and a Massachusetts gold leg band. MassWildlife’s records indicate this bird was banded as a chick (along with another sibling) by MassWildlife in June of 2010 (nearly 6 years ago) at a nest site in the Petersham portion of the Quabbin Reservoir. Based on its size and weight, biologists and veterinarians believe the eagle is an adult male.MassWildlife would like to thank Sergeant Anthony Papandrea for his concern and assistance during the capture, West Boylston dispatcher Sandra Luthman for making the connection to the agency and to Dr. Scott Handler, (Tufts V’88) for his assistance. Kudos to the Tufts Wildlife Clinic for their care of the eagle. Anyone wishing to contribute to the care of this eagle or other wildlife brought to the Bernice Barbour Wildlife Clinic is welcome to do so as the Clinic cannot charge for the care of wildlife. To make a donation go to: tuftsgiving.org. At Select a School, choose Cummings Veterinary and in Select An Area, choose Wildlife Program and complete the rest of the form. Source: Mass Fish and Wildlife and public Facebook share Photos
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