MORRO BAY, Calif. - An injured Golden Eagle is recovering at Pacific Wildlife Care Center in Morro Bay after undergoing surgery over the weekend.
The Golden Eagle is recovering from surgery to repair a hole through the bird's wing that was likely made by a bullet.
The young eagle was found on a ranch in Creston in mid-January suffering from what appears to be a gunshot wound.
Pacific Wildlife Care Center Veterinarian Dr. Shannon Riggs says, "A lot of what we see unfortunately the majority of the patients we get here are here because they had some negative interaction with people either a car, a gunshot, or people letting their cats outside. The vast majority are things that are preventable."
The Golden Eagle is recovering in an enclosure where there is a sign cautioning people to be quite.
Dr. Riggs says the eagle is strong and healthy and will likely survive, but he may never return home.
"His releasability is really doubtful. He has had a traumatic injury to that wing so I doubt he will be able to fly. We are keeping our fingers crossed because that would be the best outcome. He's a young bird so it would be nice to get him back out there."
If the eagle does not make a full recovery, he will likely become part of an education program as an ambassador, helping raise awareness about protecting wildlife.
Dr. Riggs tells Central Coast News that in the wild, Golden Eagles live about 15 years. Birds that survive traumatic injuries and cannot be returned to the wild typically live longer because they receive expert care. In fact, an eagle can live up to 30 years in captivity.
