A bald eagle trapped in the wheel well of an old car was rescued by wildlife rehabilitation experts after a farmer discovered the injured bird near Ocheyedan in Osceola County.The eagle, named Buckbeak by its rescuers, was found by an Osceola County farmer who monitored the bird for hours before calling for help when no progress was made.Wildlife rehabilitation experts from Homestead Small Animal Practice in Spencer, Iowa, responded to the call and found the eagle’s wing stuck in the wheel well.“So he was literally just jammed in the wheel well, so we had to go, and we were taking flashlights and we were breaking down the tire around his wing. We eventually got it out, and miraculously, he didn’t have any injuries or anything; it was just soft tissue injuries,” said Dr. Sam Ford, Master Wildlife Rehabilitation.Recovery and releaseBuckbeak spent several days at a clinic receiving physical therapy for range of motion and antibiotics to help his wounds heal.“I didn’t want him to stay too long and get any kind of muscle disuse atrophy or anything like that. We always worry about that, especially with the big guys that are really heavy. He was almost 12 pounds, so he was a big boy. So I didn’t want him to get any kind of weakness with his wings,” Ford said.The eagle was released on the same farm where he was found.The rehabilitation required wasn’t cheap. Information about contributing to the costs can be found on the Facebook page for Homestead Small Animal Practice.» Subscribe to KCCI’s YouTube page» Download the free KCCI app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play

OCHEYEDAN, Iowa —

A bald eagle trapped in the wheel well of an old car was rescued by wildlife rehabilitation experts after a farmer discovered the injured bird near Ocheyedan in Osceola County.

The eagle, named Buckbeak by its rescuers, was found by an Osceola County farmer who monitored the bird for hours before calling for help when no progress was made.

Wildlife rehabilitation experts from Homestead Small Animal Practice in Spencer, Iowa, responded to the call and found the eagle’s wing stuck in the wheel well.

“So he was literally just jammed in the wheel well, so we had to go, and we were taking flashlights and we were breaking down the tire around his wing. We eventually got it out, and miraculously, he didn’t have any injuries or anything; it was just soft tissue injuries,” said Dr. Sam Ford, Master Wildlife Rehabilitation.

Recovery and release

Buckbeak spent several days at a clinic receiving physical therapy for range of motion and antibiotics to help his wounds heal.

“I didn’t want him to stay too long and get any kind of muscle disuse atrophy or anything like that. We always worry about that, especially with the big guys that are really heavy. He was almost 12 pounds, so he was a big boy. So I didn’t want him to get any kind of weakness with his wings,” Ford said.

The eagle was released on the same farm where he was found.

The rehabilitation required wasn’t cheap. Information about contributing to the costs can be found on the Facebook page for Homestead Small Animal Practice.

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