Clearwater’s Rescued Eagle Takes Flight Once More

CLEARWATER, FL — A bald eagle that managed to stop traffic near Clearwater’s Westfield Countryside Mall back in October is back in the air following a team effort to rehabilitate her broken wing. The eagle was officially released back into the wild Tuesday after a several-week recovery period.

The eagle made headlines in early October after she had a run-in with a car. That run-in left the bird wounded. She was found wandering in Countryside Boulevard, near the mall.

“It appeared the eagle had been struck by a car while trying to feed on or grab a dead animal in the road,” the Clearwater Police Department wrote in an October email to media.

Hoping to help it avoid further injury, police and firefighters made the decision to block off two lanes of northbound Countryside Boulevard during busy weekday morning traffic.

“The eagle then hopped off the side of the road, where it was later captured by a wildlife rescue specialist with help from police officers and firefighters,” the email said.

The eagle was initially taken to Owl’s Nest Sanctuary for Wildlife for treatment of an injury to its right wing. It was later transferred to Busch Gardens where the park’s Animal Care Center veterinarians dove into help. Vets at Busch Gardens performed surgery to repair the bird’s broken wing, said Karen Varga-Sinka.

The eagle stayed under the watchful eye of Busch Gardens’ animal care staff before she was moved back to the Owl's Nest to complete her recovery, Varga-Sinka added.

It’s not uncommon for Busch Gardens’ veterinary staff to step in to help wounded wildlife, Varga-Sinka said. The park handles about 400 wildlife rescue cases a year. Those cases include helping animals that are ill, injured and orphaned, she said. Every case has one goal: returning them to the wild, Varga-Sinka added.

The eagle was set free at Lake Chautauqua Park Nov. 29 with help from the Clearwater Police Department, the Owl’s Nest, Busch Gardens and Nature World Wildlife. Clearwater crossing guard supervisor Norm Runkles and Officer Stewart Phillips were both on hand for the release. The two were also involved in the October rescue.

For more information about the Owl's Nest, visit its Facebook page.

Photos courtesy of the Clearwater Police Department