LSU Wildlife Hospital releases bald eagle back into the wild

BATON ROUGE, La. (WGMB/WVLA) — A crowd of students and community members gathered at LSU to witness the emotional return of a bald eagle to its natural habitat, marking the release of one of twelve eagles rehabilitated by the LSU Wildlife Hospital.

The eagle, a symbol of national pride, had been receiving medical care after suffering severe injuries, including a gunshot wound. Mark Mitchell, a veterinarian at LSU’s Wildlife Hospital, explained that many eagles they treat arrive with traumatic injuries, often due to human interaction.

“A lot of times they come in with really severe injuries,” Mitchell said. “Unfortunately, like this one, a gunshot or they’re hit by a vehicle. Sometimes during mating season, bald eagles will battle with each other and injure one another.”

The eagle’s injury occurred in the metacarpus, a part of the wing similar to a human hand. Mitchell noted the severity of the open and contaminated wound. However, the team at LSU was able to stabilize the bird, and it has since recovered enough to be released back into the wild.

“It was open and contaminated, but we were able to get him back out, which is terrific,” Mitchell said.

With 32 years of wildlife experience, Mitchell has been instrumental in treating injured animals and mentoring the next generation of veterinarians at LSU. His role at the Wildlife Hospital is about healing animals and teaching veterinary students the skills necessary to care for wildlife.

“One of the things that makes us special is the ability to give these animals another chance at life,” Mitchell explained.

“These bald eagles, they don’t want anything to do with us. If we weren’t wearing protective gear, they could potentially cause serious injury.”

Despite the success stories like this one, Mitchell expressed concern over the increasing number of bald eagles brought to the LSU hospital. As the national symbol of the United States, the eagle’s population is growing, which brings new challenges for wildlife rehabilitation.

“It’s going to be important that we keep a close eye, especially now that they’re finally the national symbol officially,” Mitchell said.

Mitchell’s passion for wildlife conservation is evident in his work with animals and his dedication to mentoring future veterinarians.

“For me, it’s being able to teach and mentor veterinary students, knowing that they’re going out there, bringing this skill set with them to make a difference.”

As the bald eagle soared back into the skies, those in attendance celebrated the bird’s recovery and the hope that more eagles—and other animals—will continue to benefit from LSU’s expertise and care.