Injured Eagle Euthanized, Despite Animal Control Officer's Efforts

VERNON/TOLLAND, CT — Despite the efforts of an Ellington animal control officer, who also happens to be a dispatcher at the state police Troop C barracks, an an inured bald eagle found on Interstate 84 over the weekend didn't make it.

The bird was located on the eastbound side of the highway on the Vernon-Tolland line at about 7:30 p.m. Saturday. Troopers located the downed eagle in center median and slowed traffic in efforts to assist the bird, who appeared to be injured.

Troopers tried to coax the bird to the right shoulder to no avail and then called Troop C Dispatcher Kimberly Gambacorta, who also serves as an animal control officer. She arrived at the scene and was able to get the bird safely inside a box. It was then transported to Horizon Wings Raptor Rehabilitation in Ashford.

On Monday, officials from Horizon Wings said the eagle suffered some head and eye trauma, along with what appears to be a broken foot. She will be on her way to Tufts veterinary center Monday for further evaluation, they added.

Dr. Maureen Murray, director, Tufts Wildlife Clinic at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University released the following statement late Monday afternoon.

"On April 9, an adult bald eagle was transported to Tufts Wildlife Clinic at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University by a wildlife rehabilitator. The eagle was found down on the ground by a major road and had presumably been hit by a car.

"Veterinarians at the clinic performed a physical examination and took radiographs of the eagle which revealed a fracture of one leg at the hock joint. Sadly, because of the proximity to the joint, the prognosis for repair of the fracture and restoration of normal, pain-free mobility was very poor.

"While the Clinic’s primary goal is always to treat and release its patients back into the wild, due to the severity of the injury, the difficult but humane decision to euthanize the bird was made."