It is with great sadness, that Beaumont Animal Services reports that “Hope” the Bald Eagle that was first reported on yesterday, had to be euthanized at the Wildlife Center of Texas, which is located in Houston.
Hope was rescued yesterday by Officer Hettinger of Beaumont Animal Services after receiving a call about an injured bird in the 7200 Blk of Helbig Rd. in Beaumont. Hope showed signs of burns on the top of her head and an injured foot. After conferring with both the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department and the Fish & Wildlife Service, Hope was rushed to the Wildlife Center of Texas; which is one of the largest wildlife rehabilitation centers in the nation caring for over 9,000 wild animals every year.
Upon Hope’s arrival at the Wildlife Center, she was started on emergency treatments and evaluations by a team of specialists in aviary medicine. After a complete evaluation it was found that Hope had indeed been electrocuted, most likely by a Highline in her nesting area. When she was electrocuted, the current traveled from her foot, through her body and then out the top of the left side of her head. This explained the burn places on her head and badly burned eye, as well as the injured foot. Internally she had bleeding and fluid in her lungs. After this bleak diagnosis, it was determined that she would need to be euthanized.
Hope was verified to be a female Bald Eagle, about three years old. The Bald Eagle is both the National Bird and National Animal and is on our National Seal. In the late 20th Century the Eagle was almost pushed to extinction in the United States and placed on the endangered species list. Several different Acts and laws were created to help protect the bird and after many years the Bald Eagle was finally removed from both the Endangered and the Threaten species list in 2007. The birds are still protected today by Federal Laws under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Lacey Act. For more information on the Eagles go to http://www.fws.gov/midwest/eagle/index.html
Matthew Fortenberry
Director of Animal Control
Beaumont Animal Services

Phone: (409) 838-3304
Email: [email protected]