Injured eagle rescued off Lions Gate Bridge
An injured eagle is recovering at a wildlife rehabilitation centre after a dramatic capture on Vancouver’s Lions Gate Bridge over the weekend.
A man reportedly captured an eagle in Stanley Park and was spotted carrying it on the bridge Saturday, according to police.
Vancouver police arrested the individual, and say “mental health may have been a contributing factor” in the situation and conservation officers are investigating further.
“During the arrest, the eagle jumped down from the man’s arm, landing on the bridge deck. The eagle then leapt up to the roof of a police cruiser,” West Vancouver police said in an emailed statement.
“After some moments, the injured bird attempted to fly away but could not sustain flight.”
The bird of prey ended up under the bridge and the WVPD captured it and handed it over to the Orphaned Wildlife Rehabilitation Society.
The Delta-based non-profit rehabilitates raptors including eagles, falcons, hawks, osprey and owls before releasing them back into the wild.
The rescued eagle has an injured eye and is suffering from lead poisoning, OWL general manager Rob Hope told CTV News.
An injured eagle landed on the Lions Gate Bridge on Saturday, Jan. 4. (Courtesy: West Vancouver Police Department)He explained eagles are often exposed to lead this time of year when they’re scavenging for food and eat meat discarded during hunting season, which contains fragments of the heavy metal left by bullets.
“A little piece of lead the size of a grain of rice can kill an eagle,” Hope said. “Once they ingest it, it's in their body and it can be very difficult to get it out.”
The eagle is currently in quarantine and will receive chelation treatment to help remove the lead, he said, adding its still too early to say whether the bird will make a full recovery or not.
“He's got a good chance, but unfortunately we can't say for sure 100 per cent, but we'll definitely try to get him back up to par,” Hope said.
The facility estimates it will have a clearer diagnosis in a week or two.
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