LSU Vet Med to release bald eagle on Thursday, January 1 in South Toledo Bend State Park
December 30, 2025
The LSU School of Veterinary Medicine’s Wildlife Hospital of Louisiana will release a bald eagle on Thursday, January 1 in South Toledo Bend State Park.
A Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries agent brought the eagle to LSU Vet Med on September 17, 2025. The adult bald eagle, a suspected female based on size, was found in Toro, La. The eagle presented with trauma, specifically traumatic brain injury and suspected pulmonary contusions (based on radiographic findings) after what we believe was an apparent fight with another eagle and falling from a significant height. The eagle received supportive care, including pain medications, fluids, food, and anti-inflammatories. The eagle also underwent flight training in our flight cages until mental status was completely normal and it could complete up to 10 laps with turns within the enclosure.
About the LSU Vet Med Wildlife Hospital of Louisiana and Raptor Rehab Program
The LSU School of Veterinary Medicine’s Wildlife Hospital cares for injured animals brought to us for medical care and treatment. Our goal is to treat and rehabilitate these animals so that they can be released back into the wild. We receive approximately 1,600 wildlife cases each year with an approximate release rate of 73 percent for treatable cases. Our mission is to carry out conservation medicine by providing veterinary care for injured wildlife, conduct conservation research, and educate the public about wildlife conservation in the state of Louisiana.
About LSU Vet Med: Bettering lives through education, public service, and discovery
The LSU School of Veterinary Medicine is one of only 33 veterinary schools in the U.S. and the only one in Louisiana. LSU Vet Med is dedicated to improving and protecting the lives of animals and people through superior education, transformational research, and compassionate care. We teach. We heal. We discover. We protect.