Bald Eagle Brought to Wildlife Medical Clinic May Find Home at Brookfield Zoo
URBANA - A bald eagle with a fractured wing is currently receiving care at the Wildlife Medical Clinic, a non-profit organization operated through the University of Illinois Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Urbana.
While the bird's injuries cannot be repaired to enable her to survive in the wild, clinic workers hope that her fracture can be stabilized to the point that she can live pain-free and be transferred to a new exhibit entitled "North American Frontiers," planned for Brookfield Zoo outside Chicago.
The bird was discovered by mushroom hunters at Fox Ridge State Park near Charleston.
"We don't see many bald eagles here," said the park's site superintendent, Glenn Lyons. "When they told me they'd seen one, I figured it would turn out to be a turkey vulture. The eagle was on the ground but flew about 100 yards when we approached. Then it was too weak to fly further, but it still was able to protect itself with its powerful talons and beak."
With the help of his son, Lyons was able to cover the injured eagle with a blanket and safely capture it on March 28. They brought it to the Wildlife Medical Clinic the next day.
Since then the bird has been cared for by the student volunteers of the Wildlife Medical Clinic. Earlier this week, it was determined that surgery would not be able to correct the fracture. The goal of treatment now is to stabilize the fracture so that the bird will be able to live pain-free in captivity. Discussions have taken place with personnel at Brookfield Zoo, and it is hoped that the eagle will find a home there.
Over the past 40 years, fewer than five bald eagles have been brought to the Wildlife Medical Clinic, according to the medical director of the clinic, Dr. Julia Whittington.
Wildlife Medical Clinic Background
In addition to aiding wildlife, the Wildlife Medical Clinic exists to provide hands-on experience to about 100 veterinary student volunteers, who work in teams to diagnose and treat wild patients.
On Saturday, April 21, the Wildlife Medical Clinic will hold its Sixth Annual "Doodles for Wildlife" benefit to help fund the work of the clinic, which provides care to nearly 2,000 ill or injured wild animals, including mammals, reptiles, songbirds, waterfowl, and birds of prey, each year.
The clinic is staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Wildlife cases are never refused. The phone number is 217/244-1195, and the Web address is http://www.cvm.uiuc.edu/wmc/.