As some of you have already learned, the juvenile Golden Eagle (GOEA) at Walden's Puddle wildlife rehab center of Joelton, TN die today. It had been found emaciated on the ground near the Smith & Jackson County TN line on July 2 and was taken by Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency's Polly Rooker to Walden's Puddle rehab center. In spite of their best efforts, the GOEA apparently just wasn't strong enough to overcome the asper pneumonia, that had developed by July 31. Tentative plans had been made for attachment of a satellite transmitter on the GOEA prior to its release within a few weeks. In a proposed partnership project: · The US Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) was to provide the satellite transmitter. · The GOEA was to be transferred to the American Eagle Foundation (AEF) in Pigeon Forge during the next week or so, or after recovery from the pneumonia. · The GOEA would be given further conditioning and exercise in AEF's 150-foot long flight pen. · One of Dr. Todd Katzner's experienced Golden Eagle satellite tracking team at West Virginia University was proposed to attach the satellite transmitter and demonstrate to AEF staff some of these satellite techniques for possible future utilization with other eagles. · AEF would pay for use of the satellite tracking system, with data provided by the USFWS to AEF and TWRA. · Private donors had agreed to reimburse AEF for satellite tracking costs and for travel expenses to and from Pigeon Forge for Katzner's team. The susceptibility of a Golden Eagle to asper pneumonia may have something to do with the climate in TN, a biologist suspect. Globally, GOEAs only live year round in hot places where humidity is low - northern Kazakhstan, the Mojave desert, Wyoming, etc. don't do well in warm, humid environments and die of asper quickly. Likewise, a GOEA (especially a bird with Wyoming genes) may be adapted to cooler, drier climates. Virtually all that you read above was copy and pasted and put together in this email using information from Bob Hatcher, American Eagle Foundation Eagle Consultant, and Retired TWRA NG-ES Coordinator as well as Dr. Todd Katzner, Research Assistant Professor, Division of Forestry and Natural Resources, West Virginia University. Some information provided by a staff member at Walden's Puddle rehab center. Many are sorry to hear this news. Everything was done that could be done to help this eagle. We should be tremendously proud of all the professional biologists and experts who worked so hard with this effort. Thanks to everyone for the great effort. Wallace Coffey Bristol, TN