Southeastern Raptor Center to release bald eagle May 27 at West Point Lake

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The Southeastern Raptor Center, in conjunction with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, or DNR, will release an adult bald eagle Saturday, May 27, at West Point Lake near LaGrange, Georgia.

The release will take place at noon EST near the Pyne Road Park boat ramp off Ga. 109 (Roanoke Road) just west of LaGrange. The release is open to the public.

Responding to a call from a citizen, wildlife technician Cody Langford of DNR’s Wildlife Resources Division found the injured eagle in a Troup County hayfield and took it to the Southeastern Raptor Center on Feb. 11, 2016. The bird had an open fracture of the left metacarpus, or wing tip, as well as internal bleeding, said Dr. Seth Oster, an assistant clinical professor and avian veterinary expert at the Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine and primary veterinarian for the raptor center.

"We stabilized the patient and confirmed the fracture with radiographs. We used a splint to repair the fracture and after six weeks moved the patient to one of our large flight aviaries," Oster said.

"It took nearly one year to regain its flight ability to a level compatible with release to the wild."

Full case details can be found on the College of Veterinary Medicine website. A map to the release site can be found at http://bit.ly/2rOOVV0.

As one of six divisions in the Department of Natural Resources, the Wildlife Resources Division is charged with conserving, enhancing and promoting Georgia’s fish and wildlife resources and outdoor heritage through science-driven research, management, regulation and education.

Auburn University is a nationally ranked land grant institution recognized for its commitment to world-class scholarship, interdisciplinary research with an elite, top-tier Carnegie R1 classification, life-changing outreach with Carnegie’s Community Engagement designation and an undergraduate education experience second to none. Auburn is home to more than 30,000 students, and its faculty and research partners collaborate to develop and deliver meaningful scholarship, science and technology-based advancements that meet pressing regional, national and global needs. Auburn’s commitment to active student engagement, professional success and public/private partnership drives a growing reputation for outreach and extension that delivers broad economic, health and societal impact.