Possibly oldest bald eagle living in Indiana found, rescued

GREENE COUNTY, Ind. (WISH) – Possibly the oldest bald eagle living in Indiana was found and rescued near Worthington, IN, on April 15.

C14, the 28-year-old bird was found with a dislocated wing near a riverbank. Property owners found the injured eagle about 2.5 miles east of Worthington, then contacted the Indiana Raptor Center in Nashville. The bird was recovered by licensed rehabilitators and taken back to the Raptor Center to get veterinary care. C14 has stabilized under their care.

It was the first time the eagle had been sighted since leaving the hack tower at Monroe Lake in Sept. 1987.

Records from DNR show C14 was taken from a nest in Lincoln County, Wisconsin, May 13, 1987 and arrived at Monroe Lake on June 9, 1987.

“This bird represents everything we’ve done in Indiana in eagle restoration,” said Allisyn Gillet, the DNR’s nongame bird biologist.

The age of C14 was determined after identifying the type of bird. The sex has yet to be determined.

“This is nesting season, so eagles are going to generally stay pretty close to their nest. I’m thinking this bird was either trying to breed or had a nest and unfortunately got injured,” Gillet said.

Experts said even after the wings mend, it’s unlikely C14 will survive in the wild. They said it’s possible it would become an education bird.

According to Patti Reynolds, President and Executive Director of the Indiana Raptor Center, the possibility of it become an education bird depends on the center’s ability to stabilize the wings and to get approval from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service and the DNR.

If you find an injured wild animal, you are asked to call a local rehabilitation expert. Click here for area contacts.