Members of the Sts鈥檃iles First Nation community aided in the rescue of a bald eagle on Tuesday (May 26).

Chief Ralph Leon, Jr. got a call from a few other community members about a bird in distress near Morris Valley Road by Harrison Mills. It appeared to be trying to swim to land, unable to fly. He contacted Orphaned Wildlife Rehabilitation Society (OWL) for assistance.

鈥淢e and a few of the band members stayed with it until they showed up,鈥� Chief Leon said. 鈥淭hey said it looked like it was in a fight with another eagle.鈥�

One of the volunteers who stayed with Chief Leon for the two-and-a-half hour wait happened to be a flagger who directed traffic around the area where the bird was walking.

鈥淚鈥檓 very thankful for the community members and their help,鈥� Chief Leon said. 鈥淚t was pretty cool.鈥�

Chief Leon said OWL would release the bird in the same area in which it was found.

RELATED:

Rob Hope, the raptor care manager with OWL, said the eagle had a large wound on its left shoulder and it鈥檚 unclear yet as to whether or not it was caused by a fight or by a shock from the nearby power lines. Given the lack of a burning smell, Hope said it is at this point more likely a fight.

RELATED:

鈥淲e鈥檝e sowed it up and it鈥檚 on antibiotics for a week or so,鈥� Hope said. OWL caregivers will continue to monitor the eagle and release it when possible. Hope added they will know more about the bird鈥檚 situation in about a week.

Chief Leon said the community has rescued at least three eagles from the area. It鈥檚 a relatively common area for injuries for a couple reasons: the proximity to the power lines and the increased probability of fights given the eagles like to mate and nest near that road.

adam.louis@ahobserver.com
Like us on and follow us on

Want to support local journalism during the pandemic? Make a donation