A baby bald eagle rescued by RCMP and a local raptor rehab organization has been released.
Orphaned Wildlife Rehabilitation Society (OWL) invited the Ridge Meadows RCMP to release the bird they helped rescue a month ago.
On July 15, Maple Ridge locals Jade Werger and Melissa Del Cid Moon spotted a baby bald eagle in distress by the dikes by Swaneset golf club, and alerted the RCMP.
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Mounties and a volunteer from the OWL rescued the baby eagle, which was brought back to the rehab centre.
In a social media post, the RCMP said, “In this job, you never know what your day will bring. A month ago we posted about assisting OWL Orphaned Wildlife Rehabilitation Society rescue an orphaned bald eagle. Today we were invited to send off this rehabilitated bird back into the wilderness”
The organization had taken the six- to seven-week-old bird to its facility in Delta.
The bird, which was covered in mites and was weak, was nursed back to health. Rob Hope, general manager with OWL said at the time of the release, the bald eagle was 4.9 kilograms, a substantial improvement from when she was found at 3 kilograms.
“When we got her in, she was fed and put in a flight pen until she built her flight muscles. She had a little issue at first, but then she overcame it and was able to fly beautifully,” said Hope.
“It is always nice to see them go out finally, and of course, thanks to the RCMP and the volunteer for helping out with her,” he said.
If you spot an eagle, falcon, hawk, osprey, owl, or a vulture in distress or injured, contact the 24-hour raptor emergency number 604-946-3171. OWL takes on only raptors or birds of prey.
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