In the past 10 days alone, Birds of Prey Northwest has responded to four calls from people who have found bald eagles injured and in pain.
“People are insisting that these birds of prey be saved and they are looking to us,” said Jane Veltkamp, raptor biologist and owner of the nonprofit St. Maries Sanctuary. “We are becoming increasingly well known as a state-of-the-art recovery center for birds of prey.”
She was on her way to Sandpoint on Monday to pick up another injured eagle.
But not every eagle can be rehabilitated and released into the wild.
One of those four died, Veltkamp said. She said she was a victim of eating something poisonous and also suffered injuries.
It’s disappointing when they lose one, she said, but Wednesday noon will be a time to celebrate when Birds of Prey NW releases three rehabilitated bald eagles into their enclosure at their headquarters, 430 East Round Lake Point. , St Maries.
Veltkamp said one of the bald eagles, a female, was in a car accident about two weeks ago, which she says is a common raptor injury.
“She was hungry and hurt when she came to see us,” Veltkamp said.
Another, an adult male, suffered acute poisoning, which Veltkamp said may have come from ingesting toxic liquid from a landfill.
She said the eagle was in a coma but they were able to flush his system quickly.
A young man who injured his shoulder a few months ago has been rehabilitated and is also being released.
Veltkamp said the indoor aviary has a special drop-down door that allows raptors to fly to freedom on their own, rather than a pre-set release date.
She said there were more bald eagles in the area, which might explain why they’re seeing an increase in injured raptors.
For more information, contact biologist Janie Veltkamp (208) 582 0797