🦅 Who: Brianna Sewell and Caden Retherford, Jackson Guard biologists
🪝 What: Rescued two juvenile bald eagles tangled by a fishing lure
📅 When: October 16
📍 Where: Near Eglin AFB’s east gate; released at Camp Pinchot
❓ Why: Immediate intervention was needed to prevent serious injury or death
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. — Two juvenile bald eagles are back in the wild after becoming dangerously entangled by a fishing lure near Eglin Air Force Base, thanks to the quick response of wildlife biologists and base security forces.
According to officials, Jackson Guard biologist Brianna Sewell and her partner, Caden Retherford, responded to a call the morning of Oct. 16 after a base employee reported two distressed birds near the fence line close to Eglin’s east gate. Using binoculars, Sewell identified the situation as a pair of exhausted juvenile bald eagles trapped together by a large fishing lure embedded deep in both birds’ toes.
“We needed to act fast before their health became an issue,” Sewell said. “The eagles would have certainly expired if not for human intervention.”
Ensuring the protection of bald eagles is a requirement under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, which obligates federal agencies such as Eglin Air Force Base to safeguard the species.
After assessing the scene, the biologists made the decision to separate the approximately three-year-old eagles by removing the plastic fishing lure, while leaving the barbed hooks in place to avoid further injury.
“We did not want to try to remove the hooks on site as it was unclear if there was internal damage to tendons within the toes,” Retherford explained. “Bald eagles rely heavily on their talons, so injuries like this can severely impact their survival.”
With assistance from Airmen from the 96th Security Forces Squadron, the eagles were safely untangled and placed in crates before being transported to Emerald Coast Wildlife Refuge in Navarre for further evaluation.
After undergoing X-rays and light sedation, wildlife professionals determined the hooks were lodged only in fatty tissue. The barbs were successfully removed, allowing both eagles to make a full recovery.
Later that same day, Sewell and Retherford transported the eagles to Camp Pinchot, a centrally located area near active bald eagle nests monitored by Jackson Guard. Both birds took flight immediately upon release, with one returning directly to a nearby nest.
“Being able to take care of a situation like this with little to no complications is the most rewarding feeling when working with protected wildlife,” Sewell said. “Watching the eagles take flight at the end of the day was a great feeling.”
Pro Communi Bono
St. Francis De Sales, Ora Pro Nobis!
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