By Khalida Sarwari
A female bald eagle released by a California wildlife organization as a young eaglet in Big Sur 15 years ago was found entangled in a wire fence on Feb. 1 at Fort Hunter Liggett in Monterey County.
Ventana Wildlife Society today is continuing to keep track of the 16-year-old eagle, known as 5M, recovering from deep open wounds at the base of each of her wings. The bird is being treated at the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals for Monterey County’s Wildlife Rescue and
Rehabilitation Center after an initial stint at Pacific Wildlife Care in Morro Bay.
The eagle is being given intramuscular antibiotics, fed by tongs twice daily and hydrated with subcutaneous fluids.
Beth Brookhouser, the director of community outreach at the SPCA for Monterey County, said that the eagle has been eating well but her recovery process will be slow.
“We’re trying to stay out of her way and trying to keep her stress-free,” Brookhouser said.
Preliminary X-ray results revealed that the eagle did not suffer any broken bones, but her left wing is drooping, likely from a struggle with the fence and possibly indicating muscle injury, according to Brookhouser.
Rosanna Leighton, supervisor at the SPCA Wildlife Center, said the SPCA is doing what is best for the eagle to get her back out into the wild again.
“We’re hoping for the best, but it’s going to be a day-by-day process at this point,” Leighton said.
Brookhouser said that the date and location of the eagle’s release is uncertain.