Update on eaglet who fell from nest in Northern California

After a bit of a bumpy start in life, a baby eagle is gaining strength and skills with help from a surrogate parent and some human handlers. Not long after it hatched, the last of three spring eagle hatchlings fell from its Lake Natoma nest on April 27 and spent an estimated 10-12 hours hanging in a precarious position. People watching a nest camera and observing below eventually realized the creature needed rescuing and a large-scale effort resulted in the eaglet being pulled safely from the tree where it fell. State and federal wildlife specialists decided the creature would need some interim care instead of immediate renesting with its family and that care is happening at the Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care facility. Video captured for KCRA 3 by the center’s executive director, Catherine Mendez, showed both the inside of the eaglet's temporary home and the eaglet's surrogate parent. Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care executive director, Catherine Mendez, takes a camera inside the area where the baby bald eagle is staying with a surrogate parent. Em, the fully grown eagle in the video, is one of the center's retired wildlife ambassadors and he’s now tasked with showing the eaglet how to be an eagle. “We really hope Em is able to integrate with this eaglet and what that means is teaching him how to vocalize, really understanding that you are the same species as myself,” Mendez said. The relationship is off to a good start, according to Mendez, with Em taking the baby bald eagle under its wing. “This is Em's first time being a surrogate and so, although we're really optimistic and excited, the welfare of Em and the eaglet is our top priority,” Mendez said. “How is Em adjusting to the eaglet and how is the eaglet adjusting to Em.” For now, the eaglet will stay at the Lake Tahoe Wildlife Care until it's ready to be placed back with its family over Lake Natoma, with the goal being to release the eaglet in the same location where rescuers found it at the end of April. “As soon as he's ready, we're going to return him to the wild so he can actually learn from his brothers and his parents,” Mendez said. It’s a reunion that could happen within just a few months, according to Mendez. “The best care is with their family, not us.” Mendez said. "That's always our main goal." Wildlife experts believe that once they are able to renest the eaglet with its parents, the eaglet will likely recognize its parents and their vocalizations, and the parents will recognize their baby eagle.
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[@ChristianSpiritualism-wy8fj]

"Ultimately, the best care is with their family; not with us." 💯💯💯

[@islandbirdw]

We have 2 bald eagle nesting sites within yards of our home. I’ve seen many displays by them over the years. The statistics on bald eagles from Audubon is only 1 in 3 will survive to maturity. Hunting skills are critical to each hatchling having at least a 33% chance of maturing and raising a brood of their own. Anything we can do to assist them is well worth it. They are the apex predator of the bird world in N America. We do have a raptor center nearby to rescue any they need care and release. Our neighbors keep allowing their cat to run at large, stalking birds and I’ve told her that her cat would be possible lunch for the eagles. 🤷🏼‍♀️
When a nestling was returned to an eerie they found many dog and cat harnesses and collars. So DONT allow your cats or dogs to be out unsupervised or they might just disappear. 🤷🏼‍♀️

[@coastalseasider4634]

As a lover of animals in general & cats quite specifically, I find those who let their cats prey on other animals to also be harming their cats. While it may be considered a natural instinct, it is wrong when a pet cat is fed & has a home. My feline loves are indoor cats for the safety of wildlife & also for my cats' safety. Rabies can be a major issue as well. We take our shoes off once inside in case we could be tracking in pesticides or anything else. Animals in general deserve our best. The wonderful folks who help them are a credit to our species. Your well-worded comments very well show what a two-way street those safety issues are.

[@melindashavis2886]

Prayers this precious Eaglet recovery. ❤❤❤

[@JohnDoe-xu2vx]

Those guys that climb up to these nests are heroes

[@bernardmcmahon351]

These are beautiful creatures, well done to everyone involved, I live in Salford uk and I follow bald eagles on line , I’ve learned a lot and really enjoy watching through the seasons all the precarious situations they get in, the ‘ups and downs’ 🦅

[@gertrudewest4535]

Gotta love the men who climbed up there and got her!

[@bethmunden7328]

Thanks so much for saving him ❤

[@rosanneshinkle4133]

Love that head covering!

[@Sean_1970-ED]

They are incredible birds! Had no interest in eagles or birds then I stumbled on the Dynamic Duo Jackie and Shadow big bear eagles 🦅 Shadow he is the best Fluffy head bar none 👌 Ps little eaglet you be fine 🦅💚

[@lisanetgark415]

Send the baby to Big Bear for Jackie and Shadow!

[@Duchess_Bananabread]

But it's not Jackie and Shadow's baby. It IS Ma and Pa's baby.

[@tammytownsend5957]

Lake Tahoe thank you

[@melissapietrok8050]

Care care so much 🙏❤

[@Dan-oi4kt]

Humans interfere way too much they should have put it back into the nest. In another eagle cam out in Florida, they ended up killing the eaglet at the vet center when it didn't have ANY injuries when they took it instead of putting it back in the nest

[@levithewonderdog335]

Agree...they should have put it back on the nest immediately. Happened just the other day when an eaglet fell off to the side of the nest and was put back on the nest straight away. It was a very young eaglet. Parent soon returned. Not possible to return this older eaglet after months as said because not only would the eaglet have left the nest by then it's likely it wouldn't be accepted anyway.

[@californigirl]

As a wildlife Resources dispatcher, I spend all year telling people to put the baby [insert animal here] back where they found it. They think every fawn, kit, cub, etc, is an orphan just because mom isn't visible. Always call a rehabber, or biologist before removing a baby animal from the wild.

[@coastalseasider4634]

I understand your concerns but I think these folks were understandably concerned because that baby eaglet had been out of that nest a good 12 hours or so from what they could determine from the video cam. I would think the eaglet would've cried out in that time frame, alerting the parents to its whereabouts but it appears nothing happened.
He now has a surrogate father eagle so he could do quite well.
Here's hoping this eaglet has the chance to tell his mom & dad all about it.💞

[@rosehiver6262]

When it came back the eaglet said : Mom, can I have a denim jacket too ?

[@lyndamac1058]

Unless it had broken bones or open wounds it's should have been put back in the nest.

[@michaelcorcoran8768]

Oh my Lord, I think I followed that nest cam and the drama was pretty intense

[@cooljets]

The Eaglet and his decendants will ,forever, build square nests.

[@wendyhardin5259]

It’s not a “creature” it’s a baby bald eagle.

[@altheaarmstrong4029]

❤❤❤

[@monicasong427]

We may not vote fellow animals the same but we can at least respect that their lives matter to them.
Reconsider vegan for vital native biodiversity.

[@deb3710]

💙💜

[@JamesFAFOCreel]

I thought it was illegal to keep bald eagles in captivity

[@swissotto1]

Give him a name. He won’t know the difference.

[@Gemma_626]

Months????

[@KC-nd7nt]

Look for a Russian if the bird fell out of a window

[@DAII-fr7qz]

Yeah, right...

[@al-to2sx]

❓

[@dangerzone9747]

what a noob

[@Laura-tp8wz]

❤❤❤❤❤