MUSKEGON COUNTY, Mich. (WZZM) - A Muskegon County woman who turned her backyard into a hospital for injured raptors will have to wait to release her latest patient.
The Braveheart Raptor Rehabilitation Center in Twin Lake, Michigan decided to delay the release of a young bald eagle until Sunday, April 5 because of the weather. The eagle will fly again after an amazing recovery from lead poisoning. The center is a home for birds of prey recovering from injury.
On January 25th, a one-year old bald eagle arrived at Susan Stamy's clinic near death, suffering from lead poisoning.
Susan says the problem is too common and preventable among these flying predators. Lead sinkers and jigs used for fishing and lead birdshot used for hunting end up in the birds' diet. Susan says there are alternatives that would prevent the problem, like hunters switching to non-lead products.
Some eagles never recover from lead poisoning. Susan watched two die from it in December. Another has permanent heart damage and will never return to the wild
But after two months of treatment, this one is a success story. This eagle is ready to soar.
The public is invited to the bird's release party, Sunday April 5th at 2:00pm at the Driftwood Golf Course, 3902 Washington, (at the corner of Washington and Brye, (east of US-31 at Exit 158) in Pentwater, Mich.
Jon MillsIn your voice
