inquisitrlogo

 
Bald Eagle Electrocuted in Iowa, Wildlife Experts Explain

Posted: July 6, 2012

bald eagle electrocuted

A bald eagle was electrocuted earlier this week in Iowa, one of the eaglets eagerly watched online from the world-famous Decorah nest in Iowa.

The bald eagle electrocuted was known as D12, one of several eaglets recently born as wildlife enthusiasts the world over watched from a webcam. The story of the Decorah eaglets, even before the bald eagle was electrocuted, captivated viewers across the globe, and was one of the largest stories on Wired in 2011.

D12′s death was announced with regrets on the Facebook page of the Raptor Resource Project, where more than 70,000 site users follow the progress of the Decorah eaglets. Earlier this week, the RRP reported that the young bald eagle had been electrocuted, saying:

“We are very sorry to announce that D12 is dead. D12 was found electrocuted at the base of a power pole on a Sunday morning. We notified the power company, who modified the top of that pole on Sunday and several other poles in the area on Monday. As of this morning, they are continuing to identify and modify poles to make them raptor safe. If you find an electrocuted raptor or other bird by a pole, take it to the nearest wildlife center (if it is still alive) and contact your state DNR or local game warden and the utility company that owns the pole.”

In the event someone discovers another bald eagle electrocuted, the RRP advised fans:

“1. Provide information about the dead or injured bird.
2. Identify the nearest pole to the electrocuted raptor by the pole identification number (on the pole itself) and local landmarks such as cross streets or street addresses (if applicable).
…Include as many specifics as you can regarding the species and the incident. If possible, take photographs of the raptor and the pole to submit with your reports and notes. “

However, while the young bald eagle had been electrocuted, the RRP also assures wildlife fans that power lines do not, in general, threaten the lives of eaglets such as D12. They explain:

“Power lines themselves are not an electrocution hazard for birds (birds can and do sit on wires), but unshielded poles can be dangerous. The Avian Protection Plan Guidelines include information on raptor safe poles and modification of existing poles. New structures are fairly safe, but older poles may not be. Older poles may have been installed either before people were aware of electrocution hazards to wildlife, or during the decline of raptor populations in America, when interaction was less likely.”

The bald eagle electrocuted and found dead was the first death among the Decorah eaglets.



Comments


12 Archived Responses to “ Bald Eagle Electrocuted in Iowa, Wildlife Experts Explain ”

  1. Rose Gale
    Jul 6, 2012

    This is so sad :-(

  2. Anonymous
    Jul 6, 2012

    my roomate's mother makes $71 an hour on the computer. She has been fired from work for seven months but last month her pay check was $13566 just working on the computer for a few hours. Read more on this web site CashLazy.*com.
    remove *

  3. Byrne Corbin
    Jul 6, 2012

    All wooden poles should be raptor friendly….why weren't they installed properly to begin with?
    No wonder these winged creatures are on the decline! Wake up Electric Companies and do the right thing now!

  4. Jim Firster
    Jul 6, 2012

    Just wondering–did it smell like chicken?

  5. Jim Firster
    Jul 6, 2012

    Just wondering–did it smell like chicken?

  6. Catherine Runnals
    Jul 6, 2012

    What I cannot understand is how frequent this happens. Dogs and other animals have been electrocuted by cable companies leaving live wires dangling on ground for repairs
    to TV reception. I know because my friends dog died this way. It could of been a child, look that up on computer so you. An see how often it happens.

  7. Catherine Runnals
    Jul 6, 2012

    Hope you have no pets

  8. Robin Robertson Chimienti
    Jul 7, 2012

    So sad

  9. Desmona Anderson
    Jul 7, 2012

    Jerk!

  10. Anonymous
    Jul 7, 2012

    my neighbor's mother made $13519 a month ago. she been working on the computer and moved in a $344900 condo. All she did was get lucky and put in action the steps exposed on this web site.

    MakeCash10.comONLY

  11. Shane Guffey
    Jul 7, 2012

    Do you smell like chicken, you insensitive prick? What else could we expect from a Bedford student?(I assume you were too stupid to graduate.)

  12. Mike O'Neal
    Jul 9, 2012

    Who will pay the cost to correct this…You? My guess is that you will be the first to complain about the rising cost of electric. We all hate to see this happen, but the cost to correct a problem is so great that it is not feasible for a power company, at least not at this time. It is easy to find blame with the Electric Company, as we seem to look for someone to blame first before we evaluate what and why, but first think just what you will be willing to give up to save a bird? So many know so little about power, but could not exist without it. So while you sit in your air-conditioned apartment or home, typing on your computer, with a cold drink nearby, attempting to correct all the wrongs in the world without knowledge of what that entails, consider for a minute that maybe you just do not understand the whole problems and thereby need to remain on the sidelines and stop soapboxing for a world cure. , it will not happen, there is no nirvana. I wish there was…we use to eat these birds, thank goodness we don’t do the here in this country anymore. Stuff happen, always has, always will. You, I assume have heard the term ‘Armchair Quarterback’. Now you know what that means. Sorry!