March 05, 2020 - 10:45 AM
JUNEAU, Alaska - A Juneau bird rescue organization is caring for two eagles found with neurological damage.
Alaska Department of Transportation workers found the eagles in the Lemon Creek area between downtown Juneau and the Mendenhall Valley and called the Juneau Raptor Center, the Juneau Empire reported.
Workers found a dead eagle with the two injured eagles. The cause of injury to surviving eagles is not known but they could have suffered concussions or eaten toxins, said raptor centre general manager Kathy Benner..
“The first two had what appears to be the same issue," Benner said. "The third one was hit by a car, and it was killed pretty much instantly.”
The community landfill is near Lemon Creek.
“If we get more birds in with this exact same symptoms, we’ll try to figure out if there’s something at the dump they’re eating,” Benner said. “You never know. It could be in someone’s backyard.”
Prescription medicine and euthanized pets can be toxic to eagles because of the chemicals they contain.
The centre rescues dozens of bald eagles every year and last year rescued 33.
The centre will provide supportive care until the birds can travel to the Alaska Raptor Center in Sitka, which is equipped to support long-term recovery.
News from © The Associated Press, 2020