Blanchard, Roxbury's animal control officer, rescued the bird from what she called sure death after residents saw it lose a battle with another large bird April 9. Blanchard suffered a deep puncture wound to her hand in the process.
The bald eagle —” believed to be female due to its large size —€” underwent a long surgery two days later and is recovering at Raptor Trust. Whether it will survive is uncertain, said Lauren Butcher, education director at the Millington bird rehabilitation center.
But if Blanchard hadn't taken it from the woods at Horseshoe Lake park, it had no chance, Butcher said.
"It's going to be a long recovery," she said. "The prognosis is still guarded."
The bird broke the humerus bone in its left wing during the fight, which several residents witnessed. It hasn't started eating on its own, but Butcher said she was optimistic.
"Things are looking well situated for healing," she said. "But there hasn't been enough time yet for the bones to start knitting together for healing."
Emerico Vespucci and Bruce Bosland spotted the birds going at it and called the Morris County Park Police, Blanchard said, while Eva Pieprzyk went directly to the township health department and told Blanchard.
Blanchard found the bird next to a stream about 70 feet off Righter Road and about 30 feet into the woods, she said.
Armed with Kevlar gloves, Blachard approached the bird and covered it with a blanket to calm it down. But one of its razor-sharp talons tore through Blanchard's right glove and into her skin, sending her to the hospital.
"It was a great rescue," she said, "one that was a highlight of my career as an animal control officer."
She left with antibiotics and medical tape, and returned to work the next day to save a fox stuck in a net at a golf driving range in Succasunna.
(nj.com - April 18, 2013)
