Young bald eagle found shot near Stillwater

<br>NOBLE, Okla. (AP) _ A young bald eagle that was found shot along Interstate 35 is in critical condition, officials say. <br><br>An Oklahoma City man discovered the male bird near Stillwater on Tuesday,

Wednesday, February 18th 2004, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

NOBLE, Okla. (AP) _ A young bald eagle that was found shot along Interstate 35 is in critical condition, officials say.

An Oklahoma City man discovered the male bird near Stillwater on Tuesday, said Rondi Large, executive director of WildCare of Noble.

X-rays indicate the eagle was shot in the chest and has a broken leg, Large said. The eagle is being treated with antibiotics and fluids, she said.

The bird is more than 2 years old and weighs more than 7 pounds.

``That is fairly thin, but we believe he was shot at least a week or two ago so he probably hasn't been eating,'' Large said.

He has a 50 percent chance of survival, she said.

``His lungs are getting some fluid in them, which is not good,'' Large said. ``So far, he is holding his own, but he was very shocky when he was found.''

Blake Rempe stopped to help the bird when he saw him earlier this week, Large said. Rempe took the bird to an Edmond veterinarian and then to the Moore Police Department where officers notified WildCare, Large said.

WildCare workers picked up the eagle Tuesday evening, Large said.

The eagle began eating overnight and was doing as well as could be expected Wednesday, she said.

Two other bald eagles have been shot in Oklahoma in recent years. One was found in Grant County in February 2003 and another wounded bird was discovered in Seminole County in 2002.