Eaglets rescued after nest tumbles down during storm

By Ginna Young

For at least two decades, passersby and residents along State Hwy. 178, just southwest of Cornell, have watched an eagle nest built in a tall pine tree, located along the Chippewa River. Each year, the eagle pair added a few branches, until the nest reached a massive size, drawing quite a few onlookers, to see if they could spot one of the adults landing or peeking their head above the twigs.

But, after a strong storm passed through the area May 21, concerned eagle watchers noticed the nest was no longer attached to the tree, which prompted quick action, to determine if the nest had tumbled down into the river or landed on the bank, and if any of the fledglings known to be in the nest, had survived.

The Winged Freedom Raptor Hospital in Spooner, was contacted and the Chippewa County Sheriff’s Department watched over the area, until the experts arrived. Sheriff Travis Hakes was happy to help – from a distance, as eagles have extremely sharp talons and beaks, and should not be approached.

“They can get fairly aggressive if you try grabbing them.” he said. “It’s best that you know what you’re doing.”

When the Winged Freedom eagle care team arrived, while the parents watched, the care team braved the steep bank to retrieve the eaglets, finding two of them alive. Later named Chip and River, the fledglings were taken to the raptor hospital and are being cared for, with updates posted on the center’s Facebook page.

The eaglets will remain there until such a time as they can be re-homed into the wild and be hopefully reunited with their parents. If anyone finds an injured or displaced eagle, they should call the Raptor Center in Stillwater, Minn., the Raptor Educational Group Inc. (REGI) in Antigo, or the non-profit Winged Freedom, all who are federally licensed to deal with eagles.

Hakes thinks the tree branch that housed the gigantic nest was a victim of the high winds that night.

“It grew to a point, where it just snapped that branch,” said Hakes, adding he believes the eagle pair will rebuild their nest in the coming years. “It’s a good spot, so I’m sure they will, to an extent.”