A bald eagle covered in sticky landfill residue was rescued in Brantford and is expected to make a full recovery after treatment.
A bald eagle had a rough day at a Brantford landfill.
The bird was found struggling to fly, with its feathers coated in a strange, sticky substance. Soon, a team effort was launched to get the distressed eagle to safety.
Thankfully, the rescue ended on a hopeful note.
Eagle Found in Trouble at Brantford Landfill
The eagle was spotted at the Brantford Landfill Site after landfill staff noticed that something was wrong.
The bird could not get airborne. Its feathers were also stuck together by an unknown substance.
Because of the eagle’s condition, city bylaw staff were called to help.
What followed was an unusual rescue mission for a team that normally deals with everyday municipal complaints.
Bylaw Team Steps In
Ian Harrower, the city’s supervisor of bylaw compliance, said staff arrived with blankets, totes and other supplies.
The team also used dirt bikes and a utility terrain vehicle to move around the landfill.
After some careful work, the eagle was safely contained.
The bird was then taken to Hillside Kennels Animal Control before a volunteer drove it to Hobbitstee Wildlife Refuge in Nanticoke.
It was a true team effort. Landfill workers, city staff, animal-control workers and wildlife rescuers all played a role.
Mystery Substance Covered Its Feathers
At Hobbitstee, wildlife custodian Chantal Theijn examined the eagle.
At first, there were concerns that the bird might have suffered a broken wing. X-rays, however, showed no fracture.
Instead, the biggest problem was on the eagle’s feathers.
A sticky, foul-smelling material had covered the bird. The feathers had become clumped together, making it difficult for the eagle to fly normally.
The source of the substance remains unclear.
Because the bird had been found at a landfill, Theijn suspected the material may have come from something discarded there.
Eagle Begins Recovery
The eagle was carefully cleaned at the wildlife refuge.
That process was important because the substance had affected the natural oils on the bird’s feathers. Those oils help feathers remain healthy and water-resistant.
Fortunately, the eagle’s initial tests were encouraging.
Blood work and X-rays were normal. As a result, wildlife staff expect the bird to recover fully.
Still, the recovery will take time.
Theijn estimated that the eagle could need about two to four weeks before it is ready to return to the wild.
A Rescue With a Happy Ending
For the people involved, the rescue was far from an ordinary day at work.
The eagle had arrived at the refuge in poor shape. Yet, after treatment and cleaning, its prospects looked much brighter.
The case also highlights the risks wildlife can face around waste sites.
For this eagle, though, a quick response made the difference.
What began with a bird stranded at a Brantford landfill ended with a second chance at life.
