Bald Eagle Survives Brush With Death, Lands At Turtle Back Zoo

WEST ORANGE, NJ — “Freedom” has officially arrived in Essex County.

On Wednesday, county officials welcomed Freedom, a 4-year-old bald eagle, to the animal family at the Turtle Back Zoo in West Orange.

According to officials, the raptor had a harrowing escape from a near-death encounter:

“Four years ago, Freedom became entangled in a rope and was discovered hanging upside down in a tree in Minnesota. He would have died if he were left hanging there. He was saved by U.S. Army veteran Jason Galvin who noticed the trapped bird while driving by. Galvin called local police and fire departments and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to rescue the eagle, but none were able to help because of how high up in the tree the bird was caught.”

Here's what happened next, officials said:

“With permission from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Galvin, an Army sharpshooter, used a .22 caliber rifle to shoot through the branches and ropes in which Freedom was tangled. It took 150 shots fired over the course of 90 minutes to free the bird. Freedom survived the 75-foot fall from the tree, and was taken by Galvin and his wife to the University of Minnesota's Raptor Center, where he has been living and recovering for the last four years.”

Freedom will join a female eagle, Adak, who arrived at the Turtle Back in 1997 from the Bergen County Zoo. They will both reside in a recently renovated bald eagle exhibit, which was damaged in a storm in 2019.

“Since the exhibit was created as part of the Wild New Jersey area in 2007, animal care standards have evolved,” county officials stated.

“To repair the exhibit and update its design to meet current requirements, a new eagle exhibit was created,” officials continued. “The tree in the center of the exhibit provides the eagles with a place to perch and an accompanying structure provides indoor space to hold the birds if they ever need to be removed the exhibit area.”

Work started in August 2020 and took five months to complete.

According to county officials, Wall-based French and Parrello received a professional services contract for $81,500 to design the new exhibit and provide inspection services during construction. ZN Construction from Saddle Brook was awarded a publicly bid contract for $1,272,000 to perform the construction work.

The project was funded with a grant from the Essex County Recreation and Open Space Trust Fund, officials said.

• See related article: Tangled Up Owl Rescued From Soccer Net In Montclair (VIDEO)

Turtle Back Zoo Director Jillian Fazio said it’s exciting to open a new exhibit and welcome an animal like Freedom, who has “such a compelling story.”

Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. agreed.

“Welcoming Freedom as the newest member of our animal family displays the important role that zoos have in conservation efforts and raising awareness about the dangers that threaten wildlife and the environment,” DiVincenzo said.

• See related article: Movement To Save Butterflies, Pollinators Growing In Essex County

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