EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. — Two juvenile bald eagles tangled together by a barbed fishing lure were rescued and released back into the wild after being found near Eglin Air Force Base’s east gate on Oct. 16.
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Brianna Sewell, a Jackson Guard biologist, and her partner, Caden Retherford, an avian research associate, responded after a base employee reported seeing two distressed birds of prey near the fence line. Using binoculars, Sewell identified a tangled mass of feathers that turned out to be two exhausted juvenile bald eagles bound together by a large fishing lure embedded in both birds’ toes.
“It was crucial we act fast before their health became an issue,” Sewell said. “The eagles would have certainly expired if not for human intervention.”
After assessing the situation, the biologists decided not to remove the barbed hooks on site due to concerns about potential internal damage to the birds’ tendons. Bald eagles rely heavily on their talons to hunt and survive.
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“We did not want to try to remove the hooks on site as it was unclear if there was internal damage to tendons within the toes,” Retherford said.
“Raptors, bald eagles specifically, rely on their talons to catch their prey, so an injury like this could negatively impact their overall health after being released.”
With assistance from Airmen assigned to the 96th Security Forces Squadron, the biologists safely separated the approximately three-year-old eagles and secured them in crates. The birds were transported to Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge in Navarre for further care.
X-rays showed the hooks were lodged only in fatty tissue. After undergoing light sedation, the barbed hooks were removed, allowing both eagles to recover quickly.
“Luckily, the barbed hooks were only lodged in fatty tissue, which meant both eagles would have a fast recovery and could be released the same day,” Sewell said.
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Later that day, Sewell and Retherford transported the eagles to Camp Pinchot, a central location near active bald eagle nests monitored by Jackson Guard. Both birds took flight immediately upon release, with one flying directly to a nearby nest atop a longleaf pine.
“Being able to take care of a situation like this with little to no complications is the most rewarding feeling when working with protected wildlife,” Sewell said.
“Watching the eagles take flight at the end of the day, knowing that the Natural Resources Office was responsible for their well-being, was a great feeling.”
Federal agencies, including Eglin Air Force Base, are required under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act to ensure the protection and conservation of bald eagles and other protected birds of prey.
Original story by Samuel King Jr.
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