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San Francisco Chronicle​

‘Magnificent bird' euthanized in Tahoe as bald eagle count hits lowest number in a decade

Wildlife rescuers made the decision this weekend to euthanize an injured adult bald eagle found grounded in the Tahoe region, a 'difficult goodbye' as the species continues its recovery from a historic decline. Gold Country Wildlife Rescue, based in Auburn, said in a Facebook post that the eagle had suffered a severe, irreparable shoulder fracture. 'While we had hoped to stabilize the eagle and transfer it to our partners at Bird of Prey Health Group, the kindest and most humane decision was to gently euthanize the bird to prevent further suffering,' the organization wrote. 'This is one of the hardest parts of wildlife rehabilitation — but it, too, is a form of care.' The loss follows a concerning drop in local eagle sightings. In January, just 15 bald eagles were counted during the annual midwinter survey in the Tahoe Basin — the lowest total in over a decade and a sharp decline from the record 42 seen in 2021. Experts at the Tahoe Institute for Natural Science noted that year-to-year fluctuations are normal, but acknowledged the numbers raise concerns about shifting habitats and changing food sources. 'There are several possible reasons for this dip,' a spokesperson said in a statement. 'Perhaps more open water sources near Tahoe are spreading the eagles out this year. Another possibility is that the calving season in nearby valleys seems to start earlier each winter, which could be drawing eagles to those areas instead of the Lake.' Once endangered, bald eagles numbered just 417 nesting pairs nationwide in 1963 due to pesticides, hunting, and habitat loss. After the U.S. banned DDT in 1972, leading to a 'significant comeback' over the years across the country, including in the Bay Area, according to Glenn Phillips of the Golden Gate Audubon Society. 'We are deeply grateful to the compassionate individuals who rescued this magnificent bird and brought it to our wildlife intake center so it could receive the dignity and care it deserved,' the Gold Country Wildlife Rescue said.