The prognosis is the most optimistic it's ever been for the juvenile bald eagle wounded by gunfire in Beaver on December 15. "As of today, indications are that the bald eagle might be able to heal the fracture in his left wing on his own and may not require surgery," said Matthew Randazzo, the public relations director for the Northwest Raptor & Wildlife Center. The Center is a Sequim-based non-profit wildlife rescue organization which has been overseeing the rehabilitation of the eagle with its partner veterinary hospital. "It's still early, but our hope is that the eagle will be able to begin his full rehabilitation at our Center in a few weeks."

"The wound has healed, and the fractured ulna bone in the eagle's left wing so far appears to be calcifying over the fracture," said Jaye Moore, the director of the Center. "He has an awesome attitude, is eating very well on his own, and is getting really talkative and expressive. We don't know how his wing and the surrounding soft tissue will handle rehabilitation, but right now everything's going as well as we could hope."

Recovered outside of Beaver with a gunshot wound believed to have been shot from a.22-caliber rifle, the juvenile male bald eagle is currently recuperating at a local veterinary hospital. Fundraising efforts on the eagle's behalf are still ongoing, as is Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife's search for the person who illegally shot the eagle.

Tips leading to the capture of the person who shot this eagle can be sent to Matthew@NWRaptorCenter.com and to Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife at 1-877-933-9847. Those interested in donating to help for the care of the eagle may visit NWRaptorCenter.com or Facebook.com/NorthwestRaptorCenter.