One of the oldest bald eagles captured in Wyoming euthanized

JACKSON, Wyo. (AP) - One of the oldest bald eagles captured in Wyoming has been euthanized.

Officials at the Teton Raptor Center say the eagle was not healing after being treated for injuries believed suffered when the bird hit a power line.

Wildlife officials say a band showed the bald eagle was about 34 years old.

Rehabilitation coordinator Meghan Warren said the eagle’s wounds were having trouble healing after she had been captured flightless in March across the highway from the National Elk Refuge,

“The wounds might not have healed,” Warren said, “and if they did heal, it would probably have taken months and months of painful rehabilitation to get to that point.”

Warren also said the bird was having difficulty eating and was losing strength.

A portion of the eagle’s right wing had to be removed because it wasn’t getting enough blood, the Jackson Hole News and Guide reported (https://tinyurl.com/h9kzvr3 ).

“We decided the most humane option for her would be to give her a dignified and humane death,” Warren said.

“She was so stoic and resilient throughout her entire rehab that for the majority of the time we were really hopeful that this was going to be successful,” Warren said.

Bald-eagle populations have grown in recent years, wildlife officials say. The species is now considered recovered after being protected for a long time under the protection of the Endangered Species Act.

The bird’s body was shipped to the National Eagle Repository near Denver, where her feathers and other body parts will be distributed to federally recognized Native American tribes.

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Information from: Jackson Hole (Wyo.) News And Guide, https://www.jhnewsandguide.com