Spread those wings and fly.
For the first time in months, that’s what one bald eagle finally had permission – and medical clearance – to do after being found injured in Bayou Gauche in November.
The bird was officially released by the levee near the LSU Veterinarian Medical Wildlife facility, where it was transferred for care after initial examination and treatment at the St. Charles Parish Animal Shelter.
According to Tim Allen of Bayou Gauche, who reached out to LSU last week for an update on the injured eagle, it was diagnosed with a fractured shin bone at the ankle. Dr. Mark Mitchell and Dr. Kim Boykin also confirmed to Allen that the eagle was a male and that once treatment was completed, the eagle was officially released in mid-January.
Allen posted two videos sent to him by LSU to Facebook, one in which the eagle hopped briefly before flying just 20 feet. In the second video, after receiving some encouragement following so many weeks out of the sky, the eagle takes off again, this time flying away.
“They both were very confident that the eagle had likely already returned to Bayou Gauche to reunite with its mate, as they migrate similar routes every year from as far north as Canada to our area,” Allen said. “They released it near the Mississippi River because the river acts as the highway for the eagle navigate back to … if eagles can make multiple trips from as far away as Canada, and possibly as far as 1,000 miles, they can certainly navigate 70 miles or so from its release point back to Bayou Gauche.”
Allen added that there have recently been multiple sightings of at least one pair of eagles in the area.
“Myself, my wife, several residents … where for many weeks, there was only one seen at a time. So, everyone is thrilled about that,” Allen said.
In November, the eagle was reported down to the St. Charles Parish Animal Shelter. Animal control officer Parker Breaux brought the eagle to the shelter for an examination, where a break in the eagle’s leg was discovered.
The suspected cause was electrocution from contact with a power line, according to the animal shelter.
While once a rare sight, the bald eagle has seen its population recover over the past several years. The species was considered endangered prior to 1995; that status was upgraded to “threatened” that year, and 12 years later it was removed from the endangered species list entirely in 2007.
It’s believed the national bird of the United States was endangered at the time due to factors like hunting of the bald eagle and use of the pesticide DDT. Both practices were banned, helping the population recover.
St. Charles Parish can be a natural place for the bald eagle to appear. Wetland habitats are optimal for the bald eagle’s breeding, and fish comprises most of its diet.
