Staff from the Tamarack Wildlife Center rescued a bald eagle on Thanksgiving in Slippery Rock.

A family contacted the center after seeing the bald eagle entangled in a fence, according to a Facebook post from Dec. 4. The bald eagle was discovered hanging by its foot in a fence along New Castle Road, according to Carol Holmgren, the executive director of the Tamarack Wildlife Center and a licensed wildlife rehabilitator.

The center said X-rays showed the bald eagle had no fractures, but it did find several toes had tendon and ligament damage. A foot splint was applied to stabilize its hallux talon, which Holmgren said acts as a thumb. The hallux is used in conjunction with others to act as a pincher.

“These are the most critical digits for an eagle or raptor to capture prey,” Holmgren said.

She said the hallux tends to fold under the foot if not splinted, so the eagle will be under the center’s care for at least a couple months. She said the first month of care can cost between $1,000 and $3,000.

“These injuries aren’t as predictable as fractures,” Holmgren said.

The center said eagle likely was diving to catch prey near the fence when it got caught. Holmgren added the adult male bald eagle is at least five years old and is in its prime for breeding.

“Our gratitude goes out to the caring individuals who got help for this eagle, all who support our center who make his treatment possible, and to our outstanding staff and volunteers who tend our patients every day of the year, even holidays,” the center said.

It said birds that fly into a fence usually sustain a concussion from the rapid deceleration and impact, so the eagle was given anti-inflammatory and analgesic medicine. He was also scheduled for physical therapy for his foot.

The eagle was not underweight when it was found.

The center added Wildlife In Need founder Sue DeArment assisted by driving to Slippery Rock to rescue the eagle and transporting it to the center.

The bald eagle is protected in Pennsylvania by the Game and Wildlife Code and federally by the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, despite being removed from the federally endangered species list in 2007.

“We have seen a dramatic increase in their populations,” Holmgren said.

The center will search for a place to release it near Slippery Rock when it’s healthy. Holmgren said the center factors in an animal’s range when releasing it into a territory, and eagles need natural perches with wider branches compared to other birds, she said.

Tamarack Wildlife Center is based in Crawford County and serves counties in northwest Pennsylvania.