Bald Eagle Release

 BUSINESS TAKEAWAY: Does your business have an area that needs to be “rehabbed”? If so, spend a few minutes today meeting with your key managers to brainstorm ways you can bring back a floundering part of your business.

For Immediate Release November 9, 2006

Rehabilitated Bald Eagle Set For November 9^th Release at Lillydale Campground onDaleHollowLake. Event Dedicated toAmerica’s Freedom Fighters.

PIGEON FORGE,Tenn.— American Eagle Foundation (AEF), U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS), and Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) officials will release a rehabilitated adult Bald Eagle onThursady, November 9, 2006 at the Corps of Engineers’ Lillydale Campground on Dale Hollow Lake near Livingston, Tennessee. The eagle has been named “Patriot” in honor of the brave and courageous men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces that are fighting terrorists and defending freedom around the world.

“The release of this majestic bird is yet another reminder of the importance of eagle conservation in theU.S.and all those Americans that have died in the name of Freedom,” said AEF PresidentAl Cecere.“The efforts of the American Eagle Foundation, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, and Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency continue to ensure that future generations will have the opportunity to see and enjoy the majestic eagle as it flies acrossAmerica’s heartland.”

On January 23, 2006, the female Bald Eagle was found and caught by wildlife officer Andy Barlow of the TWRA, who responded to a citizen’s call. Mr. Dolph Neatherly of Alpine,Tennessee, inOvertonCountyhad called the TWRA about “a Bald Eagle just standing in his pasture”. As Barlow approached the bird, it flew a short distance with difficulty and landed near a patch of woods. Wearing thick leather gloves, the officer was able to catch the bird and immediately transported it to the Ragland-Riley Veterinary Clinic inLivingstonfor an initial check-up. Dr. Ragland found no visible wounds or broken bones. However, it was somewhat “addled”, “calm” and “tame” acting. The bird was tube fed and kept overnight, then released to the care of Lee Barclay, Director of theUpperCumberlandWildlifeRehabilitationCenterand a U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service employee inCookeville. Barclay offered the bird raw chicken gizzards and lean beef, which after initially refusing, it ate readily. It then ate a second helping that also included a large mouse. The following day, Barclay transported the eagle to the American Eagle Foundation (AEF) center in Pigeon Forge,Tennessee, at Dollywood. With facilities designed to house and care for eagles, the AEF staff was able to complete the rehabilitation process. In cooperation with Dr. Mike Jones of the the University of Tennessee Veterinary School, the bird was reexamined and determined to have a serious concussion. Initially the bird would not eat at the AEF facilities and the AEF staff had to force feed it. After a couple of weeks, it began to eat on its own again, and eventually began to come out of the concussion and act like a wild eagle again. The eagle has been in a 150-foot flight cage at the AEF’s facility for several months, and has been responding and flying very well.

This eagle was scheduled for release in September 2006, but a toe injury occurred the day before the scheduled event.It has subsequently been under the care of the AEF staff andUniversityofTennesseeveterinarians at the AEF facilities, and is now deemed by the veterinarians to be ready for release.

According to Cecere, an eagle can live up to 40 years in the wild.Many die as a result of injuries from gunshot, power lines, motor vehicles, and traps, as well as from ingestion of man-made poisons and contaminants.

The AEF has release many dozens of eagles into the wilds ofTennessee. Headquartered atDollywoodin Pigeon Forge,Tenn., and home to more than 70 birds of prey, the AEF is widely recognized as a national leader in Bald Eagle conservation, recovery and public education. Established in 1985, the federally and state licensed organization operates the largest Bald Eagle breeding facility in the world.The AEF is dedicated to the care, recovery and protection of the Bald Eagle and its habitat and has educated millions of people from coast to coast.

MEDIA INFORMATION & DIRECTIONS:

Media interested in covering the eagle release must contact Al Cecere or Lee Barclay prior to the event.Mr. Cecere’s phone number is 865-256-0372and email is savetheeagle@aol.com.Mr. Barclay’s phone number is 931-528-6481, Ext. 212 and email is lee_barclay@fws.gov.

The eagle will be released at Corps of Engineers’ Lillydale Campground onDaleHollowLakeinClayCountyat 9:30 a.m. CST.

Specific instructions regarding travel to the eagle release site are as follows: From I-40 nearCookeville, turn right (north) onto Hwy. 111 and travel throughLivingston. Approximately 5 miles North of Livingston, turn left onto Hwy. 294. Follow the signs to Lillydale Campground, which is approximately 15 miles from the Hwy. 111 turn.