We all like to believe in happy endings, but unlike fairy tales, real life does not always turn out that way. I was saddened this afternoon to learn that the female Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) that was rescued on Monday at Huntley Meadows Park had to be euthanized.
The dislocation of her elbow was chronic and so severe that eventual release was not a possibility. The doctors at The Wildlife Center of Virginia determined that humane euthanasia was the best treatment.
I was happy that the work of the Fairfax County Animal Control Services officer that I chronicled in an earlier posting were featured today in the on-line editions of local media, including the Washington Post, WJLA (ABC television), WTOP radio, and Inside NOVA. The sad ending in no way diminishes my respect and thanks to Officer Kathy Prucnal for her extraordinary efforts to rescue the injured eagle.
This photo that I took during the rescue is how I want to remember the female Bald Eagle, appearing strong and alert.
RIP, beautiful eagle.
© Michael Q. Powell. All rights reserved.
Mike Powell 
😦
This is truly sad. The eagle is such a majestic bird to see in flight.
Thanks, Dennis. I consider any day that I see a bald eagle to be a great day. This one really touched me because I was able to see her up close. The initial diagnosis did not seem that serious, so the decision to euthanize her came as a shock.
It’s hard to say ‘like’ for this one, but how caring and considerate of you to tell this bird’s story. She’s a beautiful eagle!
Thanks. When you have this close an encounter with a wild animal, it’s hard not to get emotionally attached.
Very sad to hear and can only agree with Judy’s comment: good that you were there Mike to tell the story and share the beauty of this eagle. Chris
Thanks, Chris. It was an amazing experience from start to finish and I was really fortunate to be able to record it in photos.
She was a proud and beautiful bird. Thank you for sharing her photo and story.
You are welcome. Bald Eagles are really special birds, not the least because they are a symbol of our country.
This is so sad. She was such a magnificent bird. I’m confident that they made the right choice but, as you pointed out, it’s not a happy ending.
Sometimes when I am out in the wild, I realize how much death is a natural part of life. I am somewhat consoled by the notion that the eagle did not have to die the slow, lingering death that a non-flying eagle would probably have experienced in the outdoors.
Yes, we had hoped for a happy ending as well for her. Nature has its own plans for things and she would have most likely meant her end in the wild. Was captivity a possible chaos at a zoo or sanctuary were she could have been look after ever a consideration at any point. We have some programs in New York that give the animals a healthy life even with such an injury and are used for educating are youth in the appreciation of wildlife and the outdoors. I just wished that they could have come up with something that would have work in the preservation of her life. Not my call though!
She truly looked magnificent in your images and she sounds like she was full of spunky and very spirited even with that injury. Thank for the up-date Michael even if it was sad, MT
Thanks. I honestly don’t know what the options were and how the decision was reached. All I know is that the Wildlife Center is highly regarded and does a great job in rehabilitating all kinds of wildlife, including raptors. I have to believe that they made the best possible decision. I feel privileged that I was able to record some of this encounter in my photos.
I’m share they do the most appropriate thing that they could do at that time! I was just hopping for that fairy tail ending and my comment were a reflection of that hope. Please do not think that I was question you or they’re actions in this matter. I was just thinking with my finger tips again. The “What If’s” always seem to get in the way for other outcomes!
I’ve bean a big fan of your works and the experiences you share with us. I try to stop in and visit every now and then when I can leaving a deserved like behind in appreciation. With my best regards, MT
I was hoping too that there were other options and that the eagle’s life could have been somehow spared. I appreciate your kind words and explanation. It’s tough sometimes to grasp the entire content of a comment that someone makes and I had similar “what if” thoughts.
That really is a shame, Mike. I wished the outcome would have been different.
Death is a part of life, I know, but it’s hard when such a magnificent creature perishes.
Thanks for the update, Mike. Sad, yes, but you reached a lot of people with good information and great photos.
really sad.. lots of eagles that can’t be released have part of wing or all of wing removed and live long lives at raptor rehab facilities.. some do education, some foster parent babies, some mate and raise their own to be released.
It’s really hard to know how the decision was reached. FYI, here is the report that was passed on to me from the Wildlife Center of Virginia, an internationally acclaimed teaching and research hospital for wildlife and conservation medicine located in Waynesboro, Virginia. “A female adult bald eagle presented to WCV at 1 AM on 11/4/2014 after being found down with a suspected elbow luxation. The bird was found in Alexandria, MD [sic] in the afternoon of 11/3/2014 and transported to Kent, the rehabber, who was able to perform a cursory PE, and also administered fluids and offered food. The eagle was transported that night to WCV. On presentation the BAEA was BARF. Significant ocular lesions were observed OS and a R elbow luxation was palpated on PE and identified via radiographs. The luxation was determined to be chronic based on bruising, crepitus and radiographic interpretation and most likely the result of trauma. Prognosis for reduction and stabilization of elbow luxations after 48 hours is poor, and chronic arthritis is a common sequleae in these cases, which would prevent release. Based on these findings, humane euthanasia was determined to be the best course of treatment. R/O trauma.”
Reblogged this on Ann Novek–With the Sky as the Ceiling and the Heart Outdoors.
O, say it isn’t so…I am saddened to read this. such a beautiful and awesome creature.
Oh no. How sad.
That’s really sad news, 😦 but at least her death was quick and painless. What a shame.
That wonderful photo is everything your story isn’t. Unfortunately death is part of the circle of life and timing is beyond our control.
Thank You 😦
That’s too bad. And too bad that they couldn’t have found a home for her at a wildlife center.
She was so dignified… Thank you for the photo, Michael.
RIP 😦
Thanks.
Tragic for all involved 😦
Somehow I fell like it was a loss for all of us.
Especially after the early reports seemed positive! But, yes, it’s a much greater loss to all as her passing is such a statement of the impact that humans have on our precious wildlife.
Thank you so much for sharing the photos. I’ve been in awe of eagles since I was a tot and love seeing one or two most mornings driving to work. Do you know or was there speculation on how she was injured?
I really felt privileged to find myself in the position to take those shots of the eagle and document her rescue. I honestly don’t know enough about eagle behavior to be able to speculate about the cause of her injuries. I noted in the report issued by the police on her death that it mentioned that she also had issues with her eyes as well as the severe shoulder problems.
Mike, what an amazing picture you took of this wonderful bird. We also had an eagle tragedy last week where I live. Two females were flying and fighting. Their talons locked and they fell to the ground. One died immediately and the other one had to be euthanized as her injuries were major. We are mourning here too.
Thanks. It’s sad to hear of your local eagle tragedy, Lesley. Bald Eagles are such majestic creatures and I love watching them soaring high in the skies. Death is a natural part of life, particularly for wild animals, but it’s a natural and good thing, I believe, to grieve the loss of creatures like these with whom we have an emotional attachment.
Such a wonderful tribute to this beauty… It’s so painful to see, but I want to think they made the right choice in the end, that there were no options. Thanks for honoring her so beautifully….
Thanks so much for your kind words. This experience has affected much more deeply than any other photographs that I have ever taken before.
Very sad but better than letting her live on in pain.
Those are my sentiments exactly.