Upper Mississippi River Refuge Assistant Manager Tony Batya holding the rescued eagle. - USFWS photo

Staff from the Winona District of the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge rescued an injured bald eagle on December 24, 2008.  Our office was notified by Lock and Dam 5a personnel on December 23, that a bald eagle, unable to fly, was located on the ice above the lock chambers.  Wednesday morning, December 24, the eagle had moved far enough away from the locks that District staff Tony Batya and Brian Pember felt a rescue attempt could safely be made.  Fortunately, the ice in the main channel of the river was thick enough to support a Refuge airboat. 

After three short flights, the eagle was netted and transported to a staff member of the National Eagle Center.  Volunteers transported the eagle to the Raptor Rehabilation Center in St. Paul , Minn.  Tests conducted at the Raptor Rehabilation Center confirmed a lethal level of lead in the eagle.  This is fairly common in eagles.  Over the past 10 to 15 years, 20 to 25 percent of the eagles treated at the Rehabilation Center have elevated or clinical levels of lead.  Clicical lead levels in 2008 were noted in 33 percent of the treated eagles at the Raptor Rehabilation Center.