For MORE INFO on his medical care and progress, check out 09222016 Bald Eagle
So on Thursday Sept. 22, 2016 I received a call from Soarin' Hawk volunteer Jennifer Lanning advising me there was a injured bald eagle in my area and asked if I could assist. So after a brief conversation and some information exchange I made contact with Indiana State Trooper Scott Meyer from district 22. Scott informed me that the eagle was on the side of SR26 just east of CR 1100E. We talked for a bit and I informed him I was on my way but it would be about 30-40 minutes before I could get there. He said he would wait on me. So I grab all my gear and headed that way. About half way there he calls me back and says the eagle had flown off. He stated it didn't look like it was flying to well but he could no longer see it. Figuring if it was injured it probably didn't make it to far I decided to go ahead and go take a look, knowing it would have a rough night if it was injured and grounded. Upon arriving on scene Indiana conservation officer Billy Doss from district 4 had arrived and was already out searching for it. So I set out looking for which ever I could find first. After wading through shoulder high brush trying not to think about all the bugs and spiders that were crawling on me I came across Billy, who had not had any luck thus far. It was starting to get pretty dark by this point and with the thick brush and low light my hope was fading. But after about 20 minutes of searching Billy located it on the opposite side of a big creek from us “go figure”. So he looks at me and says “feel like getting wet”. As I was already dressed for work with my only work boots on I said...uh, I guess it looks that way! So I set out wading across a pretty wide creek which was a little over waist deep and pretty cold. The eagle had landed right in the muddy bank on the other side, and seemed pretty calm as I approached, so I thought. As I neared him he begins flapping like crazy trying to take flight but all he managed to do was fly right to the middle of that wonderful creek I just crossed. So with my beach towel in hand I wade back out to the middle of this creek and attempt to toss the towel over him but just as I do he pushes backwards and my towel lands right in the water. So now I have a towel that weighs 20 lbs and I'm trying to toss it at a floating eagle. The next shot misses as well but he grabbed it with his talons which we're instantly wrapped up, which was all I needed! So I grab him up and carry him to the bank where I get his wings under control and get a good hold on him. So now I get to wade back across this wonderful creek again, with a 10 lb eagle wrapped in a 20lb towel. After a nice long walk back through the spider web infested woods in the dark, guided by Billy's flashlight all the while my face covered in spider webs I kept walking into, we made it back to our vehicles. We done a brief roadside exam and really couldn't find any visable injury's. So I wrapped his talons and put the towel back around him and away we went. He was very calm for the whole ride back to my house. After that I made contact with Jennifer and she set up someone to meet me half way and we made the transfer. Such a great feeling to help a raptor that probably would not have made it through the night! Pat Funnel done a full checkup and said he had no broken bones, but did have a small puncture wound near his tail and a little blood in his mouth. As I arrived on scene that night to search for him I noticed some roadkill right about where he was originally found, so best guess is he was munching on that and a car come along and he probably just didn't get airborne in time and got clipped. But looks like he is going to make a full recovery and I will be able to release him back in the area we found him. And they even named him...Bradley...can't think of any better honor than that!
Glenn Bradley, Soarin Hawk rescue team
Stay tuned for more info on his release!
