UPDATE April 1 - On March 23, a golden eagle was struck by a semi truck and wounded. The driver of a semi that saw the incident wrapped the eagle in a blanket to transport it. When the driver came back to their truck from a stop in Belle Fourche, they found the bird awake and perched on their dashboard. Belle Fourche Police Department officers were able to assist and safely get the bird to a volunteer at the Black Hills Raptor Center.
The Black Hills Raptor Center shared an update on the injured eagle.
"The bird had surgery to repair a tear in its crop (think gizzard in a chicken or turkey). It is currently being tube fed a slurry of ingredients that provide proteins and fluids. So far, so good."
BELLE FOURCHE, S.D. – The Belle Fourche Police Department received an unexpected call Saturday evening when a truck driver needed help removing a golden eagle from their vehicle. The driver rescued the bird earlier in the day after it had been hit by another semi on the highway - and wrapped the injured eagle in a blanket.
He got a surprise after making a stop in Belle Fourche – when he returned to see the bird perched on the dashboard of his truck. Belle Fourche Animal Control responded right away to help.
Clint Haffner, code enforcement and animal control for the Belle Fourche Police Department said, “So I put on my jacket and responded and when I arrived there was a golden eagle in the cab. And then we began to figure out how we were going to get it out of the cab safely and be able to get it to the Black Hills Raptors, so it could be helped.”
Haffner worked to safely remove the eagle from the cab while his significant other got in touch with the Black Hills Raptor Center – it took just under two hours. Officials with the Raptor Center say the bird was in surprisingly good condition when they received it but more tests including flight testing – need to happen to make sure it’s okay.
Maggie Engler executive director for the Black Hills Raptor Center said, “I’ve checked in with the veterinarian in Pierre who runs the closest rehab center and – my guess is once the weather clears – for the sake of the bird, we’ll probably send it to her for her exam and probably flight.”
She said they are going to be careful and make sure the eagle can survive before returning it to the wild. The latest social media updates from the Raptor Center say it is doing well.
Black Hills Raptor Center puts focus on another important bird of prey with upcoming Superb Owl party
A Western Screech Owl from the Black Hills Raptor Center
Little Red Riding Hoot, courtesy of the Black Hills Raptor Center
Little Red Riding Hoot and Big Bad Wolf, courtesy of the Black Hills Raptor Center
A volunteer from the Raptor Center with a Western Screech Owl
A Western Screech Owl perched on a volunteer’s hand
An owl skull replica used as a teaching tool by the Black Hills Raptor Center
A crate used to carry birds from the raptor center
