A baby eagle is reportedly doing well after falling from its nest near Lake Natoma over the weekend, becoming a priority for several agencies that responded to safely rescue the wayward eaglet.
The incident occurred shortly after 3:30 p.m. Saturday when the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire Department responded to an area known as “the bluffs” above the northern side of Lake Natoma. They were called to assist with the rescue of the eaglet that had toppled out of its nest and was stranded and dangling outside of it in the tree approximately 100 feet off the ground. The area was accessed by emergency personnel off Snowberry Way in Orangevale.
A collaborative effort among Sacramento Metro firefighters, officials from California State Parks, Fish and Game, Wildlife Encounters, and Sierra Pacific Tree Services officials brought the baby bird, still much too young to fly, down from the tree safely. The rescue required the work of a veteran arborist from Sierra Pacific Tree Services who scaled the large pine that precariously extends out over the cliff overlooking Lake Natoma.
Once the bird was brought to safety, Fish and Game officials sought the services of Gold Country Wildlife Rescue. The organization is a non-profit 501c3 based in Auburn that is dedicated to wildlife rescue and rehabilitation, which often results in assisting to return treated animals to their nests.
Members of the organization teamed with the Birds of Prey Health Group in Roseville for the bird to receive a physical examination by Dr. Vickie Joseph. Birds of Prey is dedicated to the care and conservation of eagles, hawks, falcons, and owls and maximizing raptor rehabilitation with its falconry free flight program.
The eaglet was reportedly treated for dehydration and as of Monday morning, officials with Gold Country Wildlife Rescue report that the eaglet is doing well at its facility as they await some additional test results to insure its in good health.
“We work closely with Dr. Joseph and Birds of Prey Health Group as they are experts in eagles and all other raptors. We are awaiting bloodwork and additional inspection of the nest area and will continue to care for this eaglet until it’s ready for the next step in its journey,” Gold Country Wildlife Rescue reported in a statement. “As of now, it’s safe, secure, and eating like a champ.”
Bald eagles, the designated national bird of the United States of America, are known to be one of North America’s largest birds, weighing anywhere from eight to 14 pounds once they are mature. They typically have a wingspan of six to eight feet long, according to the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. The bluffs above Lake Natoma have long been a known area for eagles to nest annually.
Photos Courtesy of Gold County Wildlife Rescue, Sacramento Metro Fire.
