Answering the Call: How Volunteers Rallied to Help an Injured Bald Eagle

At Canadian Wings of Rescue (CWoR), every rescue is a team effort. Time and again, our transports show just how far people will go to help an animal in need.

This spring, a badly injured bald eagle near Thunder Bay, Ontario became the center of an urgent rescue that showcased the compassion and commitment of volunteers from across the province. Her transport is a powerful reminder of how much people are willing to do to give every animal a fighting chance.

A Bird in Trouble
The eagle was found with wounds on its toes and suffering from severe emaciation. It was taken in by Thunderbird Wildlife Rescue, a rescue organization based in Thunder Bay that focuses on rehabilitating birds of prey in Northwestern Ontario.
After stabilizing the bird, the team at Thunderbird recognized that the eagle required advanced diagnostics and specialized care. They contacted The Owl Foundation, a raptor rehabilitation center in Southern Ontario, to take over the eagle’s treatment. That’s when the timing took a fortunate turn.

By chance, one of our volunteer pilots, Kai S. was finishing another animal rescue transport near Thunder Bay. He generously offered to adjust his return flight to pick up the eagle and fly it south. It was a rare moment of perfect timing. Without it, the eagle might have had to wait days for alternate transportation to the care it urgently needed.

A Midnight Hand-Off

With a late evening departure from Thunder Bay, Kai didn’t land home until well after midnight. That’s when another volunteer stepped in—one of Canadian Wings of Rescue’s very own. Geraldine H., a registered veterinary technician (RVT) with over 25 years of experience at the Ontario Veterinary College, offered to meet Kai and foster the eagle overnight.

“Picking up the eagle brought me back to the early years of career working with raptors,” she said. “It was amazing to reconnect with The Owl Foundation after all these years.”
Thanks to Geraldine, the eagle had a safe space for the night until staff from The Owl Foundation arrived the next morning to complete the final leg of the journey.

Expert Care That Matters
The decision to transfer the eagle to The Owl Foundation wasn’t just about location, it was about accessing the best possible care. While many local rehabilitation centers work with general veterinarians, avian injuries often require highly specialized diagnostics and treatment.

As the team at The Owl Foundation explained:
“It’s so important to get injured birds to advanced medical diagnostics like we have at The Owl Foundation. Being able to quickly get injured raptors to specialized care with the help of Canadian Wings of Rescue helps to quickly assess the bird so they are not suffering with undiagnosed issues.”

Despite the rapid coordination and dedicated care, the eagle passed away shortly after arriving at The Owl Foundation. While heartbreaking, this outcome does not diminish the compassion, effort, and urgency displayed by every person who stepped up. Thanks to them, the eagle was given a real chance—and most importantly, comfort, dignity, and expert care in its final hours.

Bald Eagles in Canada
Bald eagles are one of the most iconic animal species in North America. With wingspans of up to 8 feet, they are skilled hunters and fliers. Once endangered due to habitat loss and pesticide use, their populations have recovered thanks to conservation efforts but they remain vulnerable.

Bald eagles often suffer from injuries related to lead poisoning, electrocution, vehicle collisions, and starvation. That’s why rapid access to the right care and fast, coordinated transport, in some cases, is so essential.

Thank You to Our Volunteers
To our incredible pilot, our dedicated welfare specialist, and our partners at Thunderbird Wildlife Rescue and The Owl Foundation—thank you. Your care and selflessness remind us why CWoR exists: to ensure that distance is never a barrier to compassion.