Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, February 9, 1991                   TAG: 9102090079
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-4   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: PULASKI                                LENGTH: Medium

HELP SOUGHT TO BUY FLIGHT CAGE FOR EAGLE

The New River Wildlife Center now needs a large cage to help in the bird's rehabilitation. The center seeks donations and volunteer help to get the cage built. Once the wing is healed, the eagle will need one to three months of rehabilitation before its release.

The bird would fly in the cage to regain its strength. Experts say it is too wild to rehabilitate using other methods that require more contact with people.

An ideal flight cage for an adult eagle would be 20 feet high, 20 feet wide and 100 feet long. The center may be able to get by with one only 50 feet long. It would be used for other birds' rehabilitation in the future.

The center seeks donations of time, money and materials for the project. Send donations to 1242 Poff School Road, Riner, Va. 24149.

Tim Sutphin, a Pulaski County sheep and cattle farmer, found the injured eagle and turned it over to the the center.

Examination showed the injury was a few weeks old and had healed improperly. The bird was taken to Tech's vet school Dec. 18, where the wing was reset and plated.

Shooting eagles is illegal. Under the federal Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, a first offender could be fined up to $5,000 and be sentenced to a year in jail. A second offense is punishable by a fine of up to $10,000 and a prison term of up to two years.

Agent Don Patterson of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service asked that anyone with information about the shooting call his office in Richmond at (804) 771-2481.