A bald eagle is recovering in intensive care at a bird sanctuary after being found injured in a Coquitlam park.
The eagle was spotted covered in blood and in distress in Mundy Park this morning.
After receiving numerous calls, a staff member with Orphaned Wildlife Rehabilitation Society (OWL) went out and rescued the bird.
“Judging by the sound of what was happening with the bird lying down and not moving, we knew there was a situation,” says Rob Hope with OWL.
Hope says the eagle, which appears to be over seven years old, has lacerations to his face and three puncture wounds to his right leg.
He is also nursing a possible eye injury.
Although the injuries are fairly superficial, the bird is on a three-day antibiotics course to stop the infection.
It appears the bird got hurt in a fight with another eagle over food or mate.
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“Food can be an issue this time of year,” says Hope. “We just had a big snowfall, so when the ground is covered, sometimes it is hard for them to find food. Once the snow is gone and the food is there and they are hungry, there is a chance of them fighting over what little food is around.”
Hope says without intervention, the eagle’s chance of survival would have been 50/50.
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“Sometimes when we go in and rescue the bird, it will fly away. These birds have been fighting for many years, so it is a natural occurrence. However, in this situation, we were worried for the bird and the public as well.”
After the eagle finishes his antibiotic treatment, Hope says they will monitor his eating and make sure he can put weight on his leg.
“We are hoping within a week or two, he will be in a big flight cage, which is 300 feet long, flying strong, so eventually we can release him.”
Hope says they are asking the public to be aware of struggling birds this time of year.
“If you are out there walking around, keep your eyes open and if you do see an injured bird of prey in distress, please call us and we will gladly rescue the bird.”
So far this year, the society has rescued 430 birds, 10 of them in the last week alone.
But Hope says that’s on pace with last year.
He says although their intensive care is almost full, it is common to see birds get injured in fights or hit by cars around this time.
PHOTO GALLERY: The eagle getting rescued in Coquitlam
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