[TN-Bird] Update on gunshot Bald Eagles

From: knoxmartin2@xxxxxxx
To: tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Sat, 3 Nov 2012 15:31:13 -0400 (EDT)
In the past six months the Mid-South Raptor Center in Memphis has received two 
gunshot Bald Eagles. The first, a bird hatched in 2012, was recovered from the 
LBL area of Stewart County. It had been shot with a 22 caliber rifle and 
suffered a badly broken wing. The wing was stabilized by Dr. David Hannon of 
Memphis Veterinary Specialists and has been going through rehabilitation at the 
center. It recovered nicely and on October 27, 2012, was banded and prepared 
for release. The bird will be taken to Reelfoot Lake State Park in Lake County 
where it will have a few weeks in the large flite cage behind the visitor's 
center in Tiptonville and then released. The second bird, a mature male, was 
found by a concerned citizen in rural Hardeman County and taken to a local vet 
earlier this week. The county TWRA agent brought it to Memphis for treatment. 
Initial examinations found that the bird had both a broken wing as well as a 
broken leg. It was shot with a shotgun, probably in flight, and broke the leg 
when it fell to earth. Once the bird was stabilized surgery was performed on 02 
November by Dr. Hannon and the staff surgeon at Memphis Veterinary Specialists. 
The surgery took over four hours. The wing was stabilized and a plate was 
attached to the broken leg. The bird came through the surgery quite well and is 
currently in recovery. It is receiving several types of antibiotics as well as 
fluids. If it continues to recover it will probably be transferred to the 
Mid-South Raptor Center later next week. Zach Greene of the US Fish & Wildlife 
Service Law Enforcement Division is currently investigating both cases. A 
reward of $7,500 has been offered for information leading to the arrest and 
conviction of those people responsible for each of the  shootings.


Knox Martin, Director
Mid-South Raptor Center
Memphis, Shelby County, TN
[TN-Bird] Update on gunshot Bald Eagles

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