After months of rehab, one eagle’s taking to the sky once more, following a broken-wing stint.
ALEXIS, Ill. — Another eagle, named Alexis, took to the skies Sunday, April 6, due to the help of Hog Capitol Wildlife Rescue & Rehab. The Kewanee organization renewed one bird’s ability to fly, after a local family discovered it grounded with a severely broken wing in January.
One of Hog Capitol’s founders, Tamara Yarger, explained that the grounded eagle’s wing was broken in three places. She initially thought the bird would never fly again.
“You know, back in the day, a broken wing on an eagle was a death sentence,” Yarger said. “And sometimes it still is, depending on where the break is. But she came out; she soared beautifully; I’m just in awe.”
When Hog Capitol first rescued Alexis, Yarger noticed Alexis’ mate circling the area where she had fallen. Yarger’s hoping the two birds will be able to reunite before the end of mating season.
Hog Capitol rescued over 300 animals in 2024, 13 of them eagles. This year they’ve rescued an additional handful of eagles. Each time they return to flying, Yarger feels over and over the same feelings of pride.
“Just seeing [Alexis] up there circling and soaring, it was beautiful,” Yarger said. “Fly high, sweetheart.”
Yarger hopes to cover more territory with Hog Capitol. A similar group based out of Bureau County, Wild Sky Rescue and Rehab, merged with them on April 2. Wild Sky’s founder even just received the proper state permits needed to rescue animals, according to Yarger.
“It’s kind of, like, an extension of us,” Yarger said.
More News 8 coverage of Hog Capitol’s work rescuing eagles can be read here.
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