Golden Eagle Saves Other Raptors

It’s not often that a patient at PAWS Wildlife Center is able to help save the lives of other animals, but a golden eagle did just that—donating blood to a bald eagle and red-tailed hawk who each arrived at PAWS with severe anemia and in need of life-saving blood transfusions.

“Birds tolerate blood loss better than mammals,” said PAWS Wildlife Veterinarian Dr. Nicki Rosenhagen. Staff administered oral fluids after the procedure and kept a close eye on each of the three patients. “All did well,” Dr. Nicki recalled.

The golden eagle had quite a journey before ending up at PAWS. Last September, a mother and daughter spotted him struggling on the banks of the Methow River. They waded through thigh-deep water to reach him, using a hoodie to cover and wrap the injured bird for transport.

They placed the eagle in a large kennel and embarked on the seven-hour roundtrip drive to Sarvey Wildlife Center, where the eagle was stabilized and got the care he needed before being transferred to PAWS.

Our veterinary staff determined that the second-year eagle was unable to fly due to significant wing droop from the left carpus, or wrist, likely from soft tissue injury or nerve trauma. A figure-eight wrap was placed on the wing to immobilize it and prevent further injury and feather damage. Regular physical therapy ensured range of motion was maintained while the wing healed.

To be ready for release, he needed to fly to high perches in his enclosure consistently and without much effort. Over seven months later—well after the patients he’d saved had already been returned to the wild—a PAWS rehabilitator spotted him on the highest perch. He was finally ready!

On release day, PAWS Naturalist Jeff Brown prepared the carrier, specially designed to protect the eagle’s tail and flight feathers during transport, for the long journey back to Twisp. The eagle was fitted with a tiny GPS backpack that allows researchers to track his progress and assess the survival rate of rehabilitated eagles. The tag is lightweight and fastened with a biodegradable cotton string that will eventually break, allowing the eagle to continue living his life unencumbered.

After 234 days of care at PAWS, the fully rehabilitated golden eagle flew out of his carrier to a nearby ridge. One of his rescuers who had bravely waded into the river to save him was there to witness his strong flight out of sight and back to a full life in the wild.