Escambia County Animal Welfare officers rescue injured juvenile bald eagle

Pat O'Donnell
·2 min read

ESCAMBIA COUNTY, Fla. (WKRG) — Escambia County Animal Welfare officers rescued an injured juvenile bald eagle Tuesday morning in West Pensacola.

The county animal welfare team received a call Tuesday morning about a large bird or hawk that appeared to be unresponsive after flying into a window at a Pinewood Lane home.

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“The caller was concerned because a hawk had hit her window, and it was on the ground and didn’t appear it was going to live,” Lead Animal Welfare Officer Sgt. Merideth Roberson, who responded to the call and recognized the bird as a juvenile bald eagle, said. “The bird was super disoriented when we got there – panting heavily, which is not normal for birds, and it was on its back.”

Escambia County Animal Welfare officials said the bald eagle hit the window hard enough to leave an imprint and needed immediate care.

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Sgt. Robertson and Animal Welfare Officer Johnathan Harrington put the bird in their truck and brought it to the Wildlife Sanctuary of Northwest Florida for treatment, where staff members confirmed the bird was a juvenile bald eagle.

An injured juvenile bald eagle at the Wildlife Sanctuary of Northwest Florida, where they hope to rehabilitate the bird and release her back into the wild. (Photo courtesy of Escambia County)
An injured juvenile bald eagle at the Wildlife Sanctuary of Northwest Florida, where they hope to rehabilitate the bird and release her back into the wild. (Photo courtesy of Escambia County)
Escambia County Animal Welfare Officer Johnathan Harrington and Lead Animal Welfare Officer Sgt. Merideth Roberson with an injured juvenile bald eagle they rescued from a residence. (Photo courtesy of Escambia County)
Escambia County Animal Welfare Officer Johnathan Harrington and Lead Animal Welfare Officer Sgt. Merideth Roberson with an injured juvenile bald eagle they rescued from a residence. (Photo courtesy of Escambia County)

Officials said there is “high confidence” the bird is a female because of how large it is.

“They’re hoping to rehab it,” Sgt. Roberson said. “When we got to the Wildlife Sanctuary, it appeared more alert than it was when we first got it, so that was a good sign.”

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The Escambia County Animal Welfare team and the Wildlife Sanctuary of Northwest Florida partner in helping animals get back to their natural habitats.

“Our Escambia County Animal Welfare team is so dedicated to serving our community every day, and this is just one of many examples of how much they care for animals,” Escambia County Animal Welfare Director John Robinson said. “I appreciate the concerned resident who alerted us to this situation, Sgt. Roberson and Officer Harrington for their quick action, and the Wildlife Sanctuary for caring for this young bald eagle and giving it the best chance of getting back into the wild.”

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