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Searchers find the last missing Decorah eaglet

Posted: Sun, Jun 9, 2019 7:08 AM
Eaglet D32 (Photo courtesy of SOAR and RRP)

Decorah Fish Hatchery eaglet D32 has been recovered.

The eaglet, which fell off a branch of the nest earlier in the week, was located Friday evening by a couple of Decorah residents. The eagle was in Trout Run Creek tucked in along a bank downstream from the Decorah Hatchery nest.

Raptor Resource Project staffers says the eaglet "was in rough shape."  DNR Fish Hatchery personnel retrieved it from the creek, and placed him/her in a box.  The eaglet was then taken to Saving Our Avian Resources (SOAR), about one hour away.

Raptor Resource Project Vice President Laura Johnson, a veterinarian specializing in raptor care, says she found D32 to be weak, a bit hypothermic, underweight, and showing signs of anemia with many black fly bites.  She administered fluids and electrolytes to the eaglet and Saturday morning was able to get D32 to eat some venison.

The recovery of D32 means all three eaglets who had fallen off branches at the Decorah eagles nest--D32, D33 and DN9--have been discovered.