Young eagle needs serious sudsing after dip in frying oil

A young bald eagle has been rescued from the Grand Rapids area after it was found covered in frying oil.

"It came in very sticky, very oily, even our clothing was covered after examining her," said Tiffany Lui, animal care coordinator at Wildlife Haven Rehabilitation Centre

The female bird was found unable to fly and was brought to the centre on Nov. 22 by conservation officers.

Lui said the greasy bird most likely got covered in oil by accident while it was looking for food.

"It's more of a fry oil smell, so we are pretty sure it just came from the dump where maybe somebody had some left over fry oil sitting around. It might have found some food and accidentally got stuck in the oil," she said.

Eagles are often found at landfills looking for meals, she said, and it's not unusual for birds to get into oily substances. This particular bird, however, was completely saturated in the stuff, she said. 

"It was probably one of our worst cases that we've seen here, so we are taking a little extra precaution in making sure we get everything off," she said.

Lui said the bird is a juvenile, about a year old.

Not your average bird bath

The eagle has already been given about six baths using Dawn dish soap, and will still need a few more to get all the grease out. Lui said it is a slow and careful process.

"When we're washing, we can't just wash the whole body because it is rather a stressful situation for the bird, so we have to kind of do bits and pieces."

The centre, which is located in Île-des-Chênes, south of Winnipeg, doesn't have an appropriate tub so staff drive the eagle to the city every couple of days to lather her up at Centennial Animal Hospital in Winnipeg. Wildlife Haven is currently raising money to build a new facility that will be equipped with a wash station of their own.

Lui said the young eagle should make a full recovery and there does not appear to be any other issues other than the oil. Once the oil is gone the bird will have to recondition itself with its own oils, and a flight test will be done before she is set free.

"She's very healthy, she's eating very well, and she is flying a bit now in her room," said Lui.

"If it's just the oiling, once we get the oils off she should be fine," she said.

Lui expects the eagle to stay at the centre for a few more months and hopes she'll be released in the spring.