How an Eastern Iowa nonprofit rescues and rehabilitates bald eagles
INDEPENDENCE, Iowa (KCRG) - Each rescue starts with a call- and Wildthunder’s Tracy Belle always answers.
January 29th was no exception. Belle says she had been up all night with a rescue, and was about to get some sleep when her phone rang around 9:30am. Someone had found an injured bald eagle near a KCRG-TV9 communications tower near Walker, and it needed help. Belle didn’t hesitate. “We packed up the gloves and the crate and the blanket and headed down there,” says Belle.
It became clear the bird had at least a broken leg. $1,500 worth of surgeries later, Belle says he’s recovering well at their base in Independence, and they’re hopeful for a full release.
The Iowa DNR says similar accidents happen often- estimating six million birds collide with communication towers each year. “Many of those are probably small songbirds that are migrating at night and collide with towers during their flights. But you know, eagles and other things can be impacted as well,” says Anna Buckardt Thomas, an avian ecologist with the Iowa DNR.
She says the eagle population in Iowa has steadily grown over the years. “It’s really exciting that we have so many and that it’s really one of those conservation success stories for the state. I talked to folks who remember hardly seeing eagles as a kid and now they see many or at least more than they ever have,” says Buckardt Thomas. “And it’s a really exciting thing. They’re also just really cool to watch.”
Right now, WildThunder is caring for around eight bald eagles. Belle says the most common reason they need help is lead poisoning. “People that are still using lead ammunition, lead sinkers, the birds...the hunters are still leaving them in the gut piles, they feed off animals that have been shot or have eaten the lead and they end up compromised,” says Belle.
The nonprofit relies on donations to help get them healthy enough to hope for a full release. You can find more information on how to donate here.
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