RELEASE 

PRESS RELEASE

DATE: November 12, 2019

CONTACT: Paige Dukes, Public Information Officer

Telephone: (229) 671-2400 or (229) 292-6142

pdukes@lowndescounty.com 

www.lowndescounty.com

Lowndes County Animal Services & the Georgia Department of Natural Resources 

Partner to Save Bald Eagle

Lowndes County, Georgia – On Thursday, November 7, Lowndes County Animal Services Officer, Jeff Atkison, was dispatched to a location on Highway 376 in response to a passerby calling to report a bald eagle on the ground in a roadside ditch. With assistance from licensed trapper, Marshall Locher from Locher’s Reptiles, the eagle was contained until an officer from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources arrived to transport the bird to Quailwood Animal Hospital for veterinary evaluation and care.

Currently, the eagle remains in protective care at Auburn University’s, Southeastern Raptor Center, until it can be rehabilitated and released. According to rehabilitators, the ideal location for release is near where the raptor was found. “The possible return of a bald eagle is exciting news for Lowndes County. Bald eagles are a symbol of national freedom, a gift our community knows something about,” stated Chairman Bill Slaughter.

Bald eagles were added as endangered species to Georgia’s Protected Wildlife List in 1974. According to www.georgiawildlife.com, “The nesting population of bald eagles in Georgia has continued to grow, surpassing 100 occupied nest territories in 2007 and more than 200 nest territories in 2015. The 2017 surveys documented a record 218 nests at least 142 of which were successful.”

Georgia Department of Resources representatives would like to remind citizens that ill or injured wildlife should be reported immediately to local authorities. Citizens should not come in direct contact with wildlife to include attempting to rehabilitate. Wildlife trappers and rehabilitators are required to be licensed, a part of which includes specialized equipment and training.

Locally, Lowndes County Animal Services has named the bald eagle, “Moody”, as a gesture of appreciation to the men and women of Moody Air Force Base. Updates on Moody will be released as more information becomes available.

For more information, please contact Lowndes County Public Information Officer, Paige Dukes, 229-671-2400 or pdukes@lowndescounty.com. (Photo credit: Officer Jeff Atkison, Lowndes County Animal Services)

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