A drenched bald eagle that was grounded at a landfill in Brantford, Ontario, has been rescued and is now under care at a wildlife rehabilitation center. Bylaw officers faced challenges but eventually managed to extract the eagle from the Brantford Landfill Site Scale on Monday.
Describing the rescue, Chantal Theijin, the authorized wildlife custodian at Hobbitstee Wildlife Refuge in Nanticoke, mentioned that the eagle, resembling a soaked rat due to heavy rains in parts of Ontario, was likely scavenging at the dump when it got trapped.
The rescue operation was not straightforward, according to Ian Harrower, supervisor of bylaw compliance with the City of Brantford, who recounted the adventure of capturing the eagle with a team of about six people. The eagle’s inability to fly led to a unique effort involving dirt bikes and strategic herding to secure the bird.
After a challenging 40-minute operation, the eagle was successfully captured and transferred to Hobbitstee for further care. The teamwork involved various parties from the landfill staff to animal control volunteers.
The rescued eagle, with its feathers tainted by an unidentified substance, is now expected to recover at the refuge over the next few weeks, undergoing necessary treatments for its well-being. Despite its fierce demeanor, the eagle’s progress is monitored closely by the dedicated staff at Hobbitstee Wildlife Refuge.