A drenched bald eagle, grounded at a Brantford, Ont., landfill, was successfully rescued and is now recuperating at a wildlife rehabilitation center. Bylaw officers faced challenges but managed to extract the eagle from the Brantford Landfill Site Scale on Monday.
Chantal Theijin, the authorized wildlife custodian at Hobbitstee Wildlife Refuge in Nanticoke, described the eagle’s condition as resembling a soaked rat due to heavy rains that hit parts of Ontario. She mentioned that it’s common for eagles to scavenge at garbage dumps.
Ian Harrower, supervisor of bylaw compliance in Brantford, led the rescue operation, which involved six people. They had to use dirt bikes to maneuver the eagle towards them, as it couldn’t fly. After a 40-minute endeavor, the team successfully captured the bird at the landfill.
The rescued eagle was then transported to Hobbitstee Wildlife Refuge for treatment. The refuge, funded by community donations, provides care for various wildlife species. Theijin stated that the eagle is expected to recover fully in two to four weeks, despite needing time for its feathers to heal from a mysterious substance found on them.
The wildlife custodian remarked on the eagle’s intense gaze but noted that such behavior is a positive sign of recovery. She expressed her dedication to rehabilitating wildlife, even if it means being viewed as an adversary by the animals in her care.