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Trooper brings injured bald eagles to safety

Authorities said the birds were spotted in a ravine and one had a small tear in its wing muscle

By David Greenwald
The Oregonian

GOLD BEACH, Ore. — A pair of bald eagles got a helping hand from an Oregon state trooper.

Senior Trooper Paul Rushton came to the birds’ rescue in Gold Beach on March 9, the Oregon State Police shared in a new Facebook post. Authorities said the birds had been spotted injured in a ravine: when Rushton arrived, he placed them into animal carriers and had the experts at Grants Pass’ Wildlife Images Rehabilitation and Education Center take a look. It turned out one had a “small tear in its wing muscle,” and may have become tangled up with the second eagle in a fall: eagles often hold each others’ talons during fights or pair bonding.

https://www.facebook.com/OSPsocial/posts/383520152027309

The eagles are now said to be doing well.

Wildlife Images has worked frequently with bald eagles. In 2014, the organization fostered a 2-pound eaglet, Starbuck, and cared for the bird until it could be released back into the wild.

And earlier in March, Wildlife Images executive director Dave Siddon happened to tape a video segment with another bald eagle, Defiant, in honor of World Wildlife Day. He explained that the bald eagle, once an endangered species, had been brought back with help from the Endangered Species Act of 1973. As part of its work, Wildlife Images does camps for kids to bring them up close to animals such as Defiant, and the non-profit is accepting volunteers and donations.

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©2017 The Oregonian (Portland, Ore.)

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