Nursing Birds of Prey Back to Health

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Wausau Downtown Airport, WI

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Updated: 9:34 PM Jan 4, 2006 Nursing Birds of Prey Back to Health Harsh winter conditions can make it tough for animals to survive, and this season a local rehab center is taking in more sick and injured birds than ever. Posted: 5:17 PM Jan 3, 2006 Reporter: Amanda Lutz More Birds of Prey are Injured or Sick

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This male bald eagle is normally pretty powerful, but if you look closely you can see brown stains around his beak, a sign of rhodenticide, or rat poisoning.

He's just one of 75 birds now recovering at the Raptor Education Group in Antigo.

"Normally, winter is a quieter time for us, so we count on it, with no baby birds to feed. But this year we've been seeing a lot more poisonings, some shootings and trapping incidents," says Marge Gibson, executive director for the Raptor Education Group.

Gibson says she's not sure exactly why* they have more birds this winter. Many are suffering from injuries or illness and too weak to survive on their own.

"People often call if they see a bird by the side of the road or sitting in one place for several days. That's usually a sign the bird isn't doing well," Gibson says.

Once a bird is there, the staff will help it recover, no matter how long it takes.

The rehab process depends on the type of injury, but Gibson says it takes anywhere from a few days to several months to nurse the birds back to health.

Once healthy, a bird will spend a few more weeks regaining its ability to fly. Then it's back to the wild.

"That's what we're doing, giving the birds a second chance at life," says Gibson.

If you'd like more information on the Raptor Education Group, you can log onto their Web site, www.raptoreducationgroup.org.