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Golden Eagle Release
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This December, The Great Plains Zoo and Delbridge Museum received a very special patient in need of some TLC. A juvenile Golden Eagle was shot in the wing and brought to our veterinarian by the South Dakota Department of Game, Fish & Parks. After a quick surgery to repair the wound, the bird was kept at the Zoo to recover and regain his strength.
Initially, the eagle was kept in a small enclosure to limit his activity while his wing healed. Once the wing stabilized, we moved the bird out to “Bird Island�? at the Zoo, where he would have more space to exercise. In order to keep him on a natural diet, he was fed frozen rats, rabbits and quail.
Finally, the day came to release him back into the wild. Game, Fish and Parks set up a release date of February 24th at The Outdoor Campus in Sioux Falls. We brought the eagle to The Outdoor Campus, where 7th graders from Axtel Park Middle School were present, along with the press.
The eagle was transported in a large animal carrier to the release site. When we lifted the lid off the carrier, the bird immediately jumped free. A few quick wing beats and he flew across the prairie, then perched high on a branch in a tree across the way. Everyone was clapping and cheering during this very special moment.
Although Golden Eagles are not usually seen around Sioux Falls, this bird did remain in the area for a few days. We believe he then headed for less human-populated areas, where wild game is more plentiful and there will be other Golden Eagles to learn from and eventually pair with him.
Last Update:Thursday, April 28, 2005 at 07:56:00
