Ohio: 28-Year-Old Banded Eagle Released in Marion County After Injuries

COLUMBUS, Ohio – A 28-year-old female bald eagle that suffered injuries to her foot and eye received medical care from wildlife professionals and was released back to the wild in Marion County on Friday, June 18, according to the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Wildlife. The female bald eagle was released after more than seven weeks of rehabilitation.
On April 28, Ohio Wildlife Officer Chad Grote, assigned to Marion County, and Ohio Wildlife Officer Maurice Irish, assigned to Delaware County, responded to a landowner’s call about an injured bald eagle. After safely capturing the bird, the officers decided her toe and eye injuries required rehabilitation and transferred the eagle to Crows Hollow Wildlife Care in Richwood.
While rehabilitation professionals assessed the bird’s injuries, they discovered it was banded as a hatchling on June 10, 1993 at Reno Beach in Lucas County, making her an astounding 28 years old. On average, eagles live about 20 years in the wild.
Banding efforts during the early 1990s were one way to help monitor and increase bald eagle populations. Staff collected a blood sample, attached radio telemetry gear, patagial wing markers, a state leg band, and a federal leg band. Current Division of Wildlife Assistant Chief Todd Haines and Mark Shieldcastle, a retired wetland research biologist, were on the banding team for this eagle.
“This bald eagle is on an amazing journey that brought it from Lucas County to central Ohio,” Haines said. “This bird has no doubt played a vital part of the bald eagle’s comeback in Ohio. I’m happy to see this eagle has made a complete recovery from its injuries, and also glad I had the chance to interact with it again after so many years.” Read more










