[SEMCO] IMMEDIATE RELEASE: It Takes A Village to Release an Eagle

[Stephanie Ellis]

August 31, 2012                                FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

Contact:               Stephanie Ellis, Executive Director, WILD CARE Inc.


Phone:                 (650) 319-5491   cell


 

IT TAKES A VILLAGE TO RELEASE AN EAGLE

Eastham, MA - In collaboration with the Tufts University Cummings School of
Veterinary Medicine and the Massachusetts Fish and Wildlife Service, Wild
Care is pleased to announce that "Nauset" the immature Bald Eagle has a
clean bill of health, a federal ID band, and is ready to be released.  The
eagle was rescued on July 29th in Eastham, MA.  Concerned citizens had
called Wild Care days prior to report the listless bird, which had been
spotted by staff sitting amongst vacationers on Nauset beach.  Weak but
still able to fly, more than one attempt was made by staff to apprehend the
eagle on private rooftops with little success, until Wild Care's Alex
Mueller was able to catch the bird in a rainstorm on Coast Guard Beach (to
the bewilderment of onlookers).  

 

On examination, the waterlogged eagle was exhausted, dehydrated and at least
50% below a normal eagle weight range. Even though he was under the weather,
the eagle's 5'5" wingspan, imperious beak and human-hand-sized talons were
sights to see in Wild Care's small Eastham clinic.  The patron who
originally brought the eagle to Wild Care's attention asked that he be
nicknamed "Nauset."

 

It takes a village.

Nauset was stabilized by Wild Care's rehab staff, and then transferred to
Tufts University Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, where he was able
to pack on the pounds and stretch his wings in an eagle-sized flight aviary.
The eagle has since acquired sufficient girth and physical stamina needed to
survive, and Thomas W. French, Assistant Director of the Dept. of Fish and
Wildlife Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program, has outfitted
Nauset with a federal identification band to track him after release. Early
on Saturday morning, Nauset will begin his journey back to Wild Care for
release in Eastham, near the location of his rescue.

 

WE INVITE YOU TO ATTEND "NAUSET" THE EAGLE'S RELEASE ON SATURDAY 

SEPTEMBER 1st. FORT HILL, EASTHAM, 2:00 P.M.

 

Bald Eagles have made a miraculous recovery nationwide after the banning of
DDT pesticides in 1972, and, with implementation of conservation programs,
they continue to return in greater numbers to Massachusetts.  In fact, the
bald eagle's conservation status has been recently lowered in Massachusetts
to "threatened" by the MA Dept. of Fish and Wildlife.  Cape Cod frequently
plays host to young eagles from Florida in the spring and summer, which can
be seen cruising the coastline in search of food (similar to Cape Cod's
human "snowbird" population).  Wildlife officials believe that Nauset is
just such a Floridian hatchling, who neglected to take enough time to eat
and rest on his journey north.  In addition to hungry juveniles, there are
several resident breeding pairs of Bald Eagles in Massachusetts, and
approximately 8-10 eagles spend their winters on Cape Cod.  "Nauset" is a
spectacular example of our national emblem, epitomizing strength, majestic
beauty, and the hope that all endangered species can make as swift and
inspiring a recovery. 

 

WILD CARE's wildlife rehabilitators treat birds, mammals and reptiles
brought to the center, with the goal of releasing them back into the wild
when they are capable of independent survival. Through public education,
WILD CARE works to prevent wildlife casualties and works to engage the
community in conservation through volunteerism. Since our founding WILD CARE
has accepted over 22,000 wild creatures, representing over 275 species of
native birds, mammals and reptiles. 

 

Stephanie Ellis

Executive Director

Wild Care, Inc.

10 Smith Lane

Eastham, MA 02642

 

Tel: 508-240-2255

www.wildcarecapecod.org <http://www.wildcarecapecod.org/> 

logoforemail10-2009

 

 

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