Two Eagles Released By Perkins Rehabilitation Facility

The Iowa Tribe's Grey Snow Eagle House rehabilitation facility released two bald eagles back into the wild over the weekend.

The first eagle had been found in Jefferson County with a hip injury and broken leg. Dr. Paul Welch braced the leg and it healed well enough for the eagle to be released. The second eagle came from Oklahoma County and had a back injury. Thanks to the care and rest he received at Grey Snow Eagle House, he recovered without surgery.

Both eagles spent about six months at the facility. They're the facility's 19 and 20th releases.

Located near Perkins, Grey Snow Eagle House, also known as Bah Kho-je Xla Chi, is operated by the Iowa Tribe to protect injured eagles and to increase community awareness of wildlife and Native American culture. 

1/17/2016 Related Story: Perkins Grey Snow Eagle House Marks 10 Years Of Helping Raptors

According to facility's web site, the eagles receiving life-long care at the facility have injuries that make them unable to survive in the wild. They come from all over the United States. They have been hit by cars, electrocuted or even shot. 

The eagles that are are being rehabilitated for release have been injured in Oklahoma. Most were found by game wardens or Good Samaritans. Their progress is monitored by trained aviary staff and Dr. Paul Welch from Tulsa. When a bird is ready for release, the staff moves it to the rehabilitation flight cage. It's 150 feet long and has a turn in it so the staff can monitor flight strength and patterns. When the eagle is strong enough and hunts effectively, it's returned to the wild.

The staff also gathers naturally molted feathers to distribute to tribal members for use in cultural ceremonies.