Rescued bald eagle remains in guarded condition at Morris County wildlife rehabilitation center
MILLINGTON, N.J. (Morris County) — A bald eagle rescued from the Hudson River earlier this month remains in guarded condition at The Raptor Trust wildlife rehabilitation center in Millington, officials said in an update.
The adult eagle was rescued Feb. 17 by the NYPD Harbor Patrol and transported to the rehabilitation center by officers from the New York Department of Environmental Conservation.
The nonprofit said the bird remains in its intensive care unit and is still weak.
“At this time, the patient remains in guarded condition and is still weak,” The Raptor Trust said in a statement. “We are hopeful that we will be able to run further diagnostic testing should its condition improve, but it is not yet stable enough.”
Staff members said the eagle appears more alert than when it first arrived and has eaten small amounts on its own, though it has had difficulty keeping food down.
“It appears more alert than when it arrived, and it has eaten a little on its own, but has had trouble keeping food down,” the organization said.
The Raptor Trust said it will continue providing supportive care in hopes of stabilizing the bird so that additional diagnostic testing can be conducted.
“We will continue to provide the necessary supportive care it needs to gain some strength and stabilize, at which point we may be able to determine more,” the statement said. “We appreciate the support and the many inquiries we have received. We will continue to provide updates when there are changes to report.”
Initial testing previously showed no significant levels of lead — a common cause of illness in bald eagles — and no systemic infection. The eagle was banded as a juvenile in Stony Brook, New York, in 2005 and has nested successfully for many years, according to the organization.
