GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) — The Michigan Division of Pure Assets says two bald eagles have been struck by autos within the Higher Peninsula inside the previous week. One of many eagles died and one other was injured however has a slim likelihood of survival.
The primary collision occurred close to the Schoolcraft and Luce County line. The eagle, together with different scavenging birds, was feasting on the carcass of a white-tailed deer that had been hit and killed on the street. When one other car got here, the eagle tried to fly away however wasn’t quick sufficient and was struck.
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DNR Conservation Officer Jason Ruth and DNR wildlife biologist Kristie Sitar responded to the scene. They discovered the injured chicken off the facet of the street. Sitar was capable of seize the chicken and the 2 wrapped it in a tarp for each the eagle’s and their security.
Michigan Division of Pure Assets Conservation Officer Jason Ruth holds an injured bald eagle wrapped in a tarp alongside a snow-covered freeway earlier this week. (Courtesy Michigan DNR)
It was dropped at the Skegemog Raptor Middle in Traverse Metropolis for remedy, however the chicken is paralyzed, and its odds of survival are “not good.”
The feminine has a wingspan of almost 7 ft and is not less than 20 years outdated primarily based on the steel band it wore on one in every of its legs.
One other eagle was hit the next day in Mackinac County. Sitar additionally responded to that scene, however that chicken was already useless.
Michigan Division of Pure Assets wildlife biologist Kristie Sitar holds an injured bald eagle in her arms. The chicken, which was struck by a car, was taken to a wildlife rehabilitator earlier this week. (Courtesy Michigan DNR)
Metallic bands fixed to the yellow legs of a bald eagle are proven. Coding on the bands reveals the eagle was banded as a juvenile 20 years in the past. (Courtesy Michigan DNR)
Sadly, the DNR says eagle-vehicle collisions are considerably frequent, particularly alongside highways with sooner pace limits.
“Ravens can get out of the way easily, but eagles are much bigger, and it often takes them five or more wing strokes to get out of the way of oncoming traffic,” Sitar stated in a DNR launch. “And since they’re massive and wish quite a lot of room, they fly into an open space over the street to take action.
“A bird’s chances of a full recovery from this type of accident are very small, so we really want to avoid hitting them.”
In response to the DNR, Michigan is hope to have roughly 800 breeding pairs of bald eagles, seventh-most within the U.S. Alaska has essentially the most (30,000), adopted by Minnesota (9,800), Florida (1,500), Wisconsin (1,500) and Virginia (1,100).
In the event you by accident strike an eagle together with your car or see one hit, you’re inspired to contact your native DNR workplace. Any incident that occurs after typical enterprise hours must be reported to the company’s All Poaching hotline at 1.800.292.7800.
