Interactions Between Humans and Wild Animals
After persistent calls from a concerned Mora man, an injured bald eagle was successfully captured this afternoon and brought to the University of Minnesota Raptor Center for treatment.
Jerry Williams of Mora noticed the great bird in a field behind his home. He said his first reaction was to get his small dog inside and out of danger from the bird, but once he realized the bird was injured and unable to fly, Williams immediately began making calls to get the bird rescued.
The U of M Raptor Center responded and sent transport volunteer Terry Headley to the Williams' home to capture the bird.
Headley set out with a plan to approach the bird from the side, steering him away from a thicker stand of trees and brambles. As she got closer, the eagle took notice and floundered out of sight.
"He's a runner," called Headley as she chased down the bird that was half-heartedly hopping through thick brush between corn fields.
Even though Headley recently had hip replacement surgery and was armed with nothing but a thick pair of gloves, she was able to snatch and restrain the bird quickly.
Within seconds Headley was cradling this immense raptor in her arms like an infant.
Terry Headley cradles an injured bald eagle she captured in Mora, Minnesota this week. (Kirsten Blake/Kanabec County Times)
"You are beautiful," she assured the eagle.
After quickly looking the eagle over, Headley determined the bird was likely a female and had injuries to her feet likely from territorial fights with another female. Headley also said the bird's wing was either broken or dislocated which could have been caused by fighting with other eagles or perhaps from being hit by a car.
After walking back through muddy fields, Headley loaded the bird into a small crate with the help of Williams and his wife Lynne.
Williams said the eagle was taken to the raptor clinic at the U of M and inspected by doctors this evening, who reported she was also suffering from lead poisoning and a heart murmur in addition to the broken wing. With treatment, doctors said they hope she will heal and be flying within a month.
SOURCE
Wonderful, would like some up dates on how she is doing.
Beautiful! A thousand Thank You's for helping the most grandest bird in the country! I hope it's able to make a full recovery.
Wonderful, how people reach out to creation.
Please keep us posted on this eagle, I want so much for it to be healed and flying soon!! Thank you for taking care of it. I have been watching the birth to fledging of the ones in Florida and I have begun to love these creatures even more.
They are my power/totem animal and I love them dearly Thanks to the wonderful people who risk limbs lol to help these magnificent birds.
Where did she get lead poisoning?
Thank you so Much the creator will repay you for the kindness
Great job saving this beautiful bird.
so beautiful..what a connection...good handler also...quite a gift...and an awesome blessing
You are all awesome! Thank you for reporting this beautiful bird being in danger and thank you for rescuing her.
Thank you your kindness will be remembered <3
Very heart warming story. Thank you for sharing good news. But yes where would she have gotten lead poisning and please keep us up dated on her recovery.
I think it would be such an uplifting job to help animals in need. But wild ones would be icing on the cake.. thank you! To all of you who are able to help all animals. You are véry special people!!
great news- amazing work! Much love and blessings from Europe!
From eating an animal that got shot by a hunter that used a lead based ammunition.. instead of a safe one.
Thanks to all involved in this rescue! Hoping the eagle recovers!! Note to LAURA above - eagles and other raptors as well as foxes etc get lead poisoning from eating creatures that have been shot with lead bullets. The lead accumulates in their system. Lots of info out there - google lead poisoning in eagles. Some hunters have switched to aluminum bullets.
Nice of the hunters to switch to aluminium bullets, eh? *sarcasm off* Perhaps they could just stop hunting for sport? I can't imagine ingesting aluminium will do predators any good, even if it does seem to cause lesser harm than lead.
On a positive note, though, thanks for posting this wonderful story. It's always heart-warming to read of people who care about other living beings.
There are such great ppl out there and for the ppl who called n knew to save this beautiful eagle will be blessed,please keep us updated on her recovery :)
Raptors hold a special place in my heart. I thank all who help the injured and rehabilitate them to go back to the wild. I also greatly appreciate those who, when the bird is too injured to go back to the wild, use the birds as teaching aids, to help others know the beauty, grandeur, an need of these great birds.
So thankful there are dedicated individuals who share their time and expertise in helping wildlife. I hope this eagle heals quickly and is soaring soon!
This is what i like to see and hear people who care about our wildlife and nature. Thanks to the Mora man and Terry Hedley for showing people this coverage. I pray the eagle will be alright and free again.
Lovely lady, beautiful bird! It's about time Minnesota does something positive for its wildlife! Generally, hunters and trappers run the state!
Thank you so much for taking care of this bird. She is beautiful and I hope she can recover and go back to flying soon!
Beautiful Raptor so majestic even in the arms of a human....lovely hearted woman so brave....
And caring by reporting is where it starts<3
Jerry, thank you for caring and calling the Raptor Center for help. For the gentle kindness and loving care shown to the eagle during rescue, a huge thank you to Terry! You've both shown so much compassion for the Creator's creatures. May the Great Spirit shower you both with blessings.
Jerry, thank you for this wonderful.rescue of this gorgeous bird. I'm sure your review are rewarding and we are fortunate foe people like yourself. U of M is lucky to have you. I pray the bald eagle make a good recovery so it once again to soar the beautiful skies. Bless you for all you have done and bless the team who is also responsible for the health of that bald eagle. Please keep playing on its health and progress. You and the eagle have lots of interested fans.
That first picture is one the most beautiful I have seen
I used to volunteer at a raptor center..they are amazing animals.... Wonder ...how did she get lead poisoning?? Had she also been previously shot? hmmmm....
Many thanks for this rescue! Hope she will recover soon!
Cheers!
wouldn't a hunter take and use the whole animal..? they are just shooters...
THANK YOU for ALL you do for our BEAUTIFUL WILDLIFE!!! NATURE is so EMPOWERING!!! Your acts of kindness will be rewarded by the CREATOR I am sure! =)
did this once!!! ^..^
Thank you all that helped rescue my most favorite bird in the world except owls! On another note....ALL hunting should be banned as no human benefits from killing innocent animals for consumption but rather quite the opposite happens.
An eagle can get lead poisoning from a lead sinker that come off from fishing lines. Those little lead balls fall off, the fish will eat them. This can poison the eagle or eaglets(since it is hatching time) who ate the fish. Lead bullets are not the only danger to these beautiful birds. Man is the most dangerous threat to these wonderful creatures.
What an amazing story of hope, compassion, thank you to the people that do this, you are truly respected and amazing. Because of people like this the breed lives on and my granddaughter will get to know about such wonderful creatures. Bless you. Nikki Martin, UK
Thank you for getting this great bird to a place of care. Please post updates.
Thanks for educating beyond just bashing hunters. I am 100% opposed to hunting. Just appreciate an educated informational response.
This Australian 'bird' thanks you so much for taking care of one those precious birds.
What if she has eggs or eaglets in a nest?
The lead most likely came from eating contaminated fish, thank you so much for saving such a marvelous creature from tragedy.
The last one is now my screensaver for my computer.
YA WHERE DID THIS BIRD GET LEAD POISONING????THANK YOU FOR HELPING THIS WONDERFUL BIRD...PLEASE LET US KNOW HOW SHE DID
Apparently, this is the raptor's center's Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/TheRaptorCenter
you are awesome for taking care of such a beautiful bird and making sure she did not die may god bless you!!!!!!
God bless you.you have a good heart.
i think it nice that some one is looking out for my sis.
To that wonderful lady..... BLESS YOU AND THANKS A MILLION FOR HELPING THIS BEAUTY...You are a hero in my eyes.....
Yes, please keep us updated on the Eagle's recovery. And God Bless Terry.
Thank you n would love to hear how she is doing
Absolutely wonderful! Please give update on the this beautiful bird recovers. AND, thank you so much for saving her!
Wonderful. Too bad our govt won't do anything about the 1000's killed on their wind farms.
wow would like some news about if she makes it out or not you guy's are great they are the most butifull bird around
♥♥....Shareyn Th Love.... xx tcn
Amazing ❤
If hunters stopped hunting, uncontrolled population growth of all hunted animals would destroy the wild ecosystem. Just look at all the problems deer are causing in the metro area.
God will reward your kindness and compassion!
Would love to see updates on this story and the progress that magnificent bird makes in therapy.
What great news !!!! They are my fav.... Please keep us posted on progress of this beautiful Bird.. And hats off to the Williams Family for helping a girl out :) ... I live in Mora and love to watch them flying around :)
Thank you Terry Headley. You are kind beyond words.
Moon
Thank you for saving this beautiful Bird. We need more people like you that care about all Creatures Great and Small that have been given to us from God our Creator.
we all need to get along with each other...across all species, race, gender or creed.
How amazing!!!!!!!!! God bless everyone involved in saving this magnificent soul!
How beautiful animal, thank you kind lady for helping her, she is a girl after all. So beautiful.
Lead poisoning mostly comes from Eagles eating animals who've been shot with lead ammunition.Lead shot is illegal to shoot birds with since 1991/I think ALL lead ammo should be out lawed.Thank you for this post about the Eagle.