High school teacher Kathy Uhler, who also runs the Pocono Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, was recently involved in rescuing and rehabilitating an Eagle named, appropriately enough, Donovan from a creek in Hamilton Township, Monroe County.

The bird was suffering from lead poisoning, most likely caused by ingesting an animal hit with lead shot or a fish that swallowed a lead sinker.

Donovan (named after Philadelphia Eagles' quarterback Donovan McNabb) was taken to a veterinary clinic and is now recovering at the rehab center and may survive.

Donovan is scheduled to return to Wright's Veterinary Medical Center in Bethlehem once a week for blood tests. The Wild Resource Conservation Fund awarded a $1,000 matching to the center this week to help defray some of the cost of the eagle's recovery.

"He is doing very well right now- eating and not seeming too ill from the CaEDTA... but the next blood test at the end of the week will tell a better story. I have to thank those who spent probably an entire day working on helping us financially. That is deeply appreciated," added Uhler.

Uhler has her hands full with the bird, which takes two people to safely handle and feed, and is currently paying the medical bills out of her own pocket. Uhler was in Harrisburg two weeks ago to help the WRCP with its annual holiday sale, and brought rescued barn and saw-whet owls and several snakes as part of her educational program.

To help support the eagle recovery effort, send a tax-deductible donation directly to: Pocono Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, c/o "Rescue Donovan,” 361 Cherry Drive Stroudsburg, PA 18360

(Reprinted from DCNR’s Resource Newsletter December 6, 2006)

12/8/2006