An abundance of bald eagles can be seen in southern Manitoba at this time of year and the Wildlife Haven Rehabilitation Centre has added one more to their number.

Animal Care Coordinator Tiffany Lui says this past Friday they released a rehabilitated eagle that was found up north in mid-October.

“Some Manitoba Sustainable Development officers discovered the eagle at a dump in Grand Rapids and it was covered in fish oil,” shares Lui. “Having oil all over their feathers makes it hard for them to thermoregulate and keep warm on their own and the extra weight can keep them from being able to fly.”

Lui and her team gave the eagle a series of baths, allowing the bird to recondition its feathers with its natural oils. Then, on Friday it was set free to join the others en route.

“Most of the eagles are flying south right now," notes Lui, "so we don’t necessarily want to bring an animal all the way back north and then force them to fly south anyways. We’re just kind of giving it a head start.”

As the season becomes colder, bald eagles and many other raptor species are beginning the trip to warmer climates with more easily accessible food. Some, Lui says, will stay in the lower part of our province while others will winter down across the border.

Being a young bird, Lui suggests the recently released eagle should have no problem re-establishing itself in a new territory.