LSU School of Veterinary Medicine Releases Bald Eagles Back into the Wild
 photo courtesy Nancy Nolan, Animal Magazine |
| The eagle is released and flies over the intercoastal waterway. |
Sometimes our nation’s symbol needs a little help getting off the ground.
In early 2005, two bald eagles were treated by the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine’s Wildlife Hospital for gunshot wounds. One was found by a family on a hunting trip, the other by a state Wildlife & Fisheries Agent. In both cases, the end result was a complete recovery and the eagles taking to the sky once more.
The first eagle found was on January 28, by Jake Landry and his family while hunting in Morgan City, Louisiana. Jake’s father, Chris, contacted Emile LeBlanc, a biologist supervisor with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries. LeBlanc quickly left Baton Rouge to retrieve the eagle and bring it back to LSU’s Wildlife Hospital. From there, it was transferred to Noel Thistlethwaite, a licensed rehabilitator in Washington, Louisiana, who has the largest flight cage in the state and would rehabilitate the bird until its release.
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A little more than a month later, the Landry family, LeBlanc, Thistlethwaite, and Dr. Mark Mitchell, director of LSU’s Wildlife Hospital, met at Berwick’s Landing in Morgan City to view the eagle’s release. There, Johnice Daniel, a member of the Ogalala Lakota and Cherokee nations, performed a ceremony honoring the eagle.
“All indigenous peoples of Turtle Island (North America) recognize and honor the sacred strength and power of eagle medicine sent from the Creator,” Daniel said. “This eagle medicine is our direct source and connection to the Creator, the source of all of our teachings and way of life.
“ Eagle medicine, historically, is sent to our people when our culture needs to find balance and see things clearly. This eagle medicine connection to the Creator points our way back to our sacred center. Always in times of trouble, the Creator sends us our winged spirit brother to guide our way back to a healing for our soul. The eagle carries this on his wings to us.”
 photo courtesy Nancy Nolan, Animal Magazine |
| The eagle flies over the intercoastal waterway at Berwick's landing in Morgan City. |
Once the kennel was opened, the eagle made a quick hop before soaring into the sky. The 7-year-old female had been banded as a juvenile in Michigan as part of a federal banding program. Presumably, she had come to Louisiana for the breeding season, which takes place during November and December.
The second eagle – a male – was found on January 31, by State Wildlife & Fisheries Agent Tony Vidrine. The bird, apart from a gunshot wound, needed to be treated for shock.
On February 18, the eagle was transferred to Thistlethwaite, who later brought the eagle to Port Barre on March 7 to be released. Mitchell and Vidrine helped in the release, which was once again, presided over by Daniel. Once the kennel was opened, the eagle quickly took to the sky.
“As I stood in the presence of both bald eagles, I could feel a strong wave of the Creator’s power and the heated strength of healing both birds carried within them for our people,” Daniel said. “For me to be so close to our Sacred Spirit Bird was a deeply felt honor. This was a profound teaching and strong message to me as an American Indian woman in the 21st century.”
More than 1,700 native and migratory animals are presented annually to LSU’s Wildlife Hospital. Funds are being raised to build a new facility on the grounds of the School of Veterinary Medicine.
Besides Mitchell, animals are treated by Dr. Thomas Tully, a professor of veterinary clinical sciences; and Dr. Javier Nevarez, an instructor; as well as a resident and an intern.
The majority of the animals treated are birds, but the wildlife hospital also treats wild mammals and reptiles.
“The wildlife is presented by concerned citizens, animal control officers, and officers from the Department of Wildlife & Fisheries,” Mitchell said. “Wild animals are brought in usually because of negative interaction with humans.”
This includes infectious diseases, toxicity, being hit by cars, and gunshot wounds.
“The state of Louisiana owns its wildlife, and we are the caregivers,” Mitchell said.
Contact Ginger Guttner | LSU
School of Veterinary Medicine
Highlights Team
Fall 2005
