Wesselman's Nature Society needs your help in tracking the movements of an injured bald eagle in the tri-state.  The eagle has a badly broken left leg, and is usually seen sitting in a field.

Wesselman's Nature Society Facebook Page
Wesselman's Nature Society Facebook Page
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On March 13, on their Facebook Wesselman's Nature Society posted a photo of the eagle sitting in a field, a concerned gentleman on spotted the eagle on his way to work, and when he noticed the eagle still sitting there on his way home that's when he realized something was wrong.  The gentleman contacted the Department of Nature Resources, but unfortunately they were busy, so Wesselman's Nature Society quickly stepped in.  After finding the eagle but not being able to get close to it, they found the eagle has a badly broken left leg.

Today I spoke with John Foster, the executive director of Wesselman's Nature Society, and John told me a bit more about the eagle, he said they just want to make sure the eagle is getting the proper food it needs (eagles are scavengers), and if not they'd like to catch it, and make sure it gets the rehabilitation it needs for it's broken leg.  He said there are two possible outcomes of this situation: 1) the eagle is able to scavenge and survive off roadkill or 2) the eagle starves because it can't get the proper nutrition it needs. It really all just depends on how much pain the eagle is in.

This is where YOU come in! John said this is why they need to track the eagle, and make sure it isn't in any stress.  But they need your help with tracking the eagle.

They've had a few reported sightings of the eagle in Warrick County in the area of Huffman road to Yankeetown road, and Vann road, in the area between 66 and Boonville. They believe the eagle is being seen sitting in fields because with it's badly broken leg it isn't comfortable for it to sit perched in a tree, and it feels more stable on the ground.  When I was speaking with John he said that the eagle is very strong, and it can fly, however it seems to not fly very high. One thing John said he is glad about this situation is it has brought about more awareness about the eagles here in the region.

Just yesterday on their facebook page Wesselman's Nature Society posted this about the eagle:

Eagle update - A call for help. We are trying to track the movements of an injured bald eagle. We got a call on the bird last on Friday 13th. The bird was standing in a field off Huffman Road (between newburgh and boonville). the bird has a badly broken left leg but the strength to fly a good distance (over 100 yards). The bird was spotted on Saturday standing in a field off of Red Brush Road , Newburgh. Our hypothesis is that, with one good leg, it isn't comfortable perching in a tree and more stable on the ground. Please keep your eye out for the bird and let us know if you see it. It may be able to scavenge road kill, but if it is not eating, we would be looking for that spot between too weak to fly and dead, where we can hopefully capture it and get it to a rehabber.

 

John told me they would also really like to get more pictures of the eagle, so if you see the eagle and are able to pull over and snap a picture they would greatly appreciate it.

Please report any sightings or pictures to Wesselman's Nature Society's Executive Director,  John Foster you can contact him at the Nature Society (812)479-0771 EXT. 101 and you can also email him at Jfoster@wesselmannaturesociety.org

 

Another picture of the eagle snapped on Friday by LaDonne Craig
Another picture of the eagle snapped on Friday by LaDonne Craig
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