Austin Wildlife Rescue rehabilitates injured bald eagle

AUSTIN, Texas - The Austin Wildlife Rescue is rehabilitating an injured bald eagle that was brought to them on December 15. The majestic bird has a long road to recovery and needs months of care and healing. 

FOX 7's Katie Pratt visited the wounded animal at the rescue on Friday and then checked back in on him the following Monday. The rescue said the bald eagle is doing well and recovering. 

"I would not be shocked at all if we had this bird for about a year," said Jules Maron, Executive Director of Austin Wildlife Rescue.

The eagle had to undergo surgery on Friday. The vet said they put a pin in to help keep the fracture stable while the bones grow back together. 

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"It's a little bit of an uphill battle when you're dealing with bones on birds, especially since bones on birds are hollow," said Maron. "So because of that hollowness, they tend to dry out faster." 

They monitor his wounds daily, change bandages, and keep his skin moist along the bone. The eagle also eats a high-protein diet that includes chicken, frozen rodents, and ground meat. 

"For some reason, he doesn't seem to like the particular fish we have," said Maron. "I don't know if he's just not a fish kind of eagle or if he just doesn't like our particular fish, but apparently, we have a little bit of a picky eater on our hands."

The bald eagle was found sitting in an open field in Smithville. A Texas Parks and Wildlife game warden got the eagle into a crate and drove two hours to bring the wounded animal to the Austin Wildlife Rescue in Elgin. 

Maron said the rescue only receives one or two eagles annually, while her colleagues in Houston and College Station receive four to five yearly. 

"The closer you get to a large water source, the more common it is," said Maron. "It is much less common for bald eagles to be around just in the south in general than it is up north." 

The Austin Wildlife Rescue has taken in more than 9,700 animals in 2024 alone. 

The feathered fellow has a long road to recovery, but they are optimistic that he will eventually fly like an eagle again. The rehab process could take months to a year before the bald eagle is back into flying shape. Once he is completely healed, the goal is ultimately to release the bald eagle back into the wild.