By Rick LaFrombois
Wausau Daily Herald
Saturday, January 3, 2004

ANTIGO - Two bald eagles and a rough-legged hawk found injured in November are recovering nicely at the Raptor Education Group's rehabilitation center in Antigo.

The hawk that was found shot in the town of Merrill has healed and is now undergoing physical therapy to regain his ability to fly, said Marge Gibson, executive director of the raptor group.

A bald eagle from Neillsville that was the apparent victim of unintentional lead and organo-phosphate poisoning has regained its strength.

Gibson hopes to release the eagle at the end of January.

"He is flying strongly now, and his vision seems to be good," she said. "With a raptor, they have to be perfect, otherwise their (survival) will be compromised."

A bald eagle found in the town of Scott suffering from an injured leg, hypothermia and lead poisoning still is in intensive care, but Gibson expects him to make a full recovery within a year.

"We need to build his muscles up so he's able to be as good as he can in the wild," she said.

This year has been especially busy for the Raptor Education Group's wildlife rehabilitation center. The center has recovered 500 sick or injured birds, including 28 eagles and about 200 hawks and owls from Wisconsin and Upper Michigan.

The Raptor Group is asking north central Wisconsin residents to donate aluminum cans, which help pay for medicine that is used to treat lead poisoning in birds.

To participate, drop off cans in a collection box in front of Lakeside Pharmacy on Fifth Avenue in Antigo.