The increase is partially due to the rebounding bald eagle population, which, thanks to education and conservation efforts, has seen significant gains since the late 1900s. In the 1960s and 1970s, DDT and its adverse effects on the eagle population had reduced the number of eagles to three nests in the entire state of Pennsylvania.

The state now has about 300 nests, thanks to the efforts to educate and implement conservation efforts.

Carol Holmgren is the executive director of Tamarack Wildlife Center, which opened in 1989 in Saegertown. In her early days, Holmgren treated one eagle every few years; this year alone, the center’s team has treated 18.

There has been a significant recovery in the population of bald eagles thanks to people recognizing the problems.

On Sunday, July 14, the center received a call about a juvenile bald eagle in distress on an island in the Allegheny River.

A man named Tanner was camping on the island when he noticed the young bird had not moved for an extended period. He contacted his mother, Jen Taylor, who then contacted Tamarack.

Holmgren enlisted the help of Sue DeArment at Wildlife In Need in Meadville, who was able to expertly navigate the river with a kayak and capture the eagle without incident.

The juvenile female bald eagle, nicknamed Ruth, entered the Tamarack Wildlife Center and was given an intake exam where it was confirmed that she was dehydrated, emaciated, and had a coracoid fracture. With low body conditions, organs can start shutting down, so a meticulous treatment plan referred to as an emaciation protocol involves increasing caloric intake over time to allow the bird’s body to adjust in a healthy way.

Ruth would receive oxygen and heat support and have orders for minimal stress, fluids, medication, and disease prevention. Luckily, no surgical intervention was needed to repair the fracture.

While it was not the case for Ruth, many of the eagles and other avians are coming in with lead poisoning, so Ruth was tested to assure that she did not also need treatment for that.

Thanks to donors, the wildlife recovery center also has a lead testing machine on site, which offers tremendous success in treating asymptomatic patients. The machine is equipped on-site and has treatment on hand.

Tamarack has an indoor flight building and eagles close to returning to the wild need to build strength. The indoor flight building also allowed Ruth to socialize with another young eagle which is important as they are social birds and learn from each other.

Holmgren stated that the flight building has different perches, which offer the recovering birds opportunities to scavenge indoors.

Live fish are put in small pools so the birds can practice fishing. The team will bring in roadkill to allow the birds to feed on it, preparing them for release.

“We gave her all the life skills we could while she was here,” said Holmgren.

Jen Taylor and granddaughter Peyton were able to attend Ruth’s pre-release examination, where they witnessed her being cleared for release.

The warm and sunny Halloween day October 31, after three and a half months being rehabilitated, Ruth was released near Pymatuning State Park where juvenile eagles are known to congregate.

“When we opened the carrier, she was hesitant to exit but took one step and took off. She launched into the air, did some circles above us, and flew into the trees,” said Holmgren.

With other juvenile eagles soaring nearby and on the restricted game lands with newly acquired life skills, Ruth can learn from the bald eagles at her new home and a healthy life ahead for the rescued bald eagle.