On a wing and a Jordan-Hare
For a raptor in the wild, the inability to fly isn’t just an injury—it’s an emergency.
Ten years ago, a female Golden Eagle was found severely hurt on the ground near Selma, Alabama.
She was emaciated and struggling to breathe when a good Samaritan brought her to the Auburn University Raptor Center (AURC).
“We do a physical exam of every patient that comes in,” AURC’s lead veterinarian Amberly Sokoloff said. “Then, we start our initial stabilization, fluids, pain medication and antibiotics if they have infected wounds.”
Upon intake, a bigger problem was discovered – the Golden Eagle had a metacarpal fracture in her right wing.
Her treatment would require intensive wound care and weeks of conditioning.