Wausau Daily Herald
Amy & Liz: On people

Tuesday, December 21, 2004

Marge Gibson tells us that the bald eagle that was found along Highway 107 in Lincoln County in late November is in tough shape, but still fighting to live.

“He is doing his best to win this thing, and as long as he is willing, we are too,” said Gibson, executive director of the nonprofit Raptor Education Group Inc. in Antigo. The eagle was picked up by the Raptor Education Group after a string of calls were made to the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Department about an eagle standing next to Highway 107 north of Father Menard Monument.

Although Gibson hasn’t been able to figure out exactly what’s wrong with the regal bird – tests are underway – she suspects a toxin or a virus is causing its health problems.

“He’s fine one moment… then all of a sudden it’s like he’s panicking and he goes into a defensive posture,” Gibson said.

Gibson suspects the eagle is about 15 years old. It weighed 5 pounds – about half a normal eagle’s weight – when it was picked up in November. But by mid-December, the bird weighed in at 8 pounds.

The eagle had been on a clear diet until the week of December 6, but is now eating fish, venison, and beef heart.

Gibson suspects the bird will be in her care for about a year, if not longer.