MOUNTLAKE TERRACE, Wash. — A bald eagle recently spread its wings and flew to freedom after PAWS Rehabilitation Center nursed it back to health.
The center says it spent the last three weeks caring for the adult bird, after a homeowner in Mountlake Terrace found it struggling in their backyard—wounded and unable to fly.
They called PAWS and helped coordinate its safe capture and transfer their center in Snohomish.
PAWS says the bird had extensive bruising and severe anemia, symptoms that suggest it may have gotten into rodent poison.
Once recovered, the eagle was released near Lake Ballinger in Mountlake Terrace.
The PAWS team tells KIRO 7 it strives to release animals close to where they were found to help them better transition back to their natural habitat.
“PAWS cares for dozens of injured, sick and orphaned bald eagles each year. Intakes have steadily increased in recent years, a trend that parallels this species’ successful recovery here in Washington State,” the team told KIRO 7.
Last year, PAWS said it cared for over 260 raptors, of which 29 were bald eagles.
They had over 160 different species of animals in their care throughout the year.
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