America's national bird falls prey to gun violence

A bald eagle is slowly recovering after surgeries in Missouri, the victim of a shooting that experts say is far too common for America's national bird and other raptors.

The male eagle was found injured in central Missouri on July 11. A volunteer with the World Bird Sanctuary picked him up and brought the 7-pound adult eagle back to the sanctuary in suburban St. Louis.

Executive Director Roger Holloway said the eagle's upper beak was nearly split in half by the bullet. Its left wing was also injured, and the eagle suffered from lead poisoning.

The eagle, dubbed No. 24-390 because it was the 390th injured bird treated at the sanctuary this year, has undergone three surgeries. Holloway said an operation last week was to further repair the severely damaged beak — a serious injury that would be life-ending if it doesn't heal.

The good news: Suture sites from earlier surgeries are healing well and so are jaw fractures caused by the force of the bullet, Holloway said. Another surgery is likely in early September. Even if all goes well, eagle No. 24-390 will require months of care, perhaps even a year, before he could conceivably be released back into the wild.

“We’re just being cautiously optimistic that he’s otherwise healthy and has gained weight, is processing food well and he’s getting feistier and less cooperative, which we really like," Holloway said. “Because the bird is wild and its got strength and that’s what it needs to have the ability grow the beak back to its functional size and length.”