Deputy sgt. helps save injured bald eagle

NEVADA — A quick-thinking sergeant, a connected humane society and the Ohio Bird Sanctuary helped save the life of a young bald eagle that had been hit by a car. Sgt. Carson Orians of the Wyandot County Sheriff's Department said they received a call Nov. 11 reporting an injured eagle along Ohio 231, in Nevada, Ohio. Orians responded to the scene, he said, finding a young eagle that had been hit by a car. "I tried to use a jacket to capture it," he said, but was unsuccessful. Orians then retrieved a wool blanket from his cruiser, and was able to remove the eagle from the roadway. "I scooped her up and put her in the back seat," he said. While at the scene, Orians said he had contacted Millie Thelen, shelter manager at the Wyandot County Humane Society, to notify her of the situation. Thelen reached out to the Ohio Bird Sanctuary in Mansfield, he said, to arrange for the eagle's transfer to that facility. Orians took the eagle to WCHS, and it was quickly transferred to OBS. Amanda Vanderford, curator of animals at the sanctuary, said the female eagle arrived "with obvious head trauma," and treatment for shock was initiated. The eagle, who was estimated to be approximately one year old, had scape marks on her head and beak and the tip of her beak was broken off, she said. X-rays showed the bird had sustained no fractures; however, metal was detected in her digestive system. Vanderford said the eagle tested at "a very high level" of lead. According to Vanderford, it is "very normal" for scavenger birds to experience lead poisoning, and the sanctuary tests every eagle and vulture that comes through its doors. Vanderford said scavenger birds ingest lead by feeding on animal carcasses and other remains that contain buckshot. Approximately half test positive for lead, she said, and those within a certain toxicity limit are treated. The eagle was treated to help her pass the pieces of lead she had ingested, Vanderford said, and three rounds of Chelation therapy was administered to rid her blood of the heavy metal. "She was a fighter," Vanderford said. Vanderford thanked the supporters of the sanctuary for the provision of an in-house machine to test for lead poisoning, which facilitates a quick response for sick animals, and said a Columbus pharmacy that provided compounded medications was critical to the eagle's care. She also noted the assistance of the Lilac Hill Veterinary Clinic in Mansfield, which helped OBS create and administer the best treatment plan for the eagle. Once the eagle tested negative for lead and healing from the traumatic injuries was advancing, Vanderford said the bird began to spend time in the sanctuary's flight cage. "We have one of the largest pre-release flight enclosures in Ohio," she said, which features a loop design to allow for continuous flight as birds recuperate. The flight practice builds muscle and helps "check those last few boxes" to ensure a bird is prepared to be released into the wild, she said. Six weeks after arriving at the Ohio Bird Sanctuary, the eagle was healthy, healed, and ready for release. A gathering took place Tuesday morning on State Highway 231 in Nevada to witness the result of the collaboration of care that occurred after the eagle was rescued from the roadway. Vanderford said the eagle initially was hesitant when the door to the cage was opened at the site, but then "she flew up into the trees across the street." The teamwork of many entities and individuals helped ensure the positive outcome was witnessed Tuesday morning, she said, and the "timing was great." Having the eagle at the sanctuary so quickly after she was injured and before the lead poisoning could worsen were important components to her successful rehabilitation, Vanderford said. Vanderford said eagles can live naturally into their 20's and 30's, but human interaction causes a large number of them to die at an early age. Being hit by a vehicle, poisoning, being shot or being caught in traps all are dangers faced by eagles in the wild, she said. In addition, she said, the sanctuary is seeing a growing number of injured or sick eagles each year. Normally, five or six eagles are treated each year, Vanderford said, but 2025 has seen a record 17 taken in at the sanctuary. Vanderford said she attributes the growing number to the increasing bald eagle population in the state. Sgt. Orians said being part of Tuesday's release was an amazing experience. "It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," he said. Orians said anyone who comes across an injured eagle or other wild animal should contact their local sheriff's department or the Ohio Department of Natural Resources. Thelen spoke for WCHS to express gratitude for the successful outcome of the eagle's treatment. "WCHS is so grateful to Sgt. Orians and OBS for their compassion toward this eagle," she said. "Our local law enforcement repeatedly goes above and beyond the call of duty, helping with stray, injured and vulnerable animals of all kinds." "Amanda and the team at OBS arrived to our shelter within hours to receive the eagle and we are thrilled with the high qualify care she received," Thelen said.