An After-Hours Rescue Gives a Young Eagle a Second Chance

When Prince William Deputy Animal Control Officer Brent White got an after-hours call about two bald eagles stranded in a wastewater treatment tank, he just had to respond. 

Shortly after 11 p.m. on June 24, White arrived at the American Water treatment plant, where a juvenile bald eagle had become trapped. 

The call came from Wastewater Operator Gerard Galione, who had spotted two bald eagles in the tank earlier that day. Determined to help, Galione spent several hours trying to rescue the birds using the equipment he had available. During the effort, the adult eagle managed to regain enough strength to fly away, but the younger eagle remained stranded, soaked through its down feathers and too weak to escape.  

After exhausting several options to find assistance, Galione contacted Prince William County's non-emergency line, which connected him with White.

Arriving late that evening with a telescoping animal-control catch pole and net, designed to catch dogs, White took over the rescue. Working in the dark and reaching over the safety railing, he carefully maneuvered the extended net toward the exhausted bird.  

“Reaching over the safety railing with an eight-foot catch net and making sure I didn’t drown the eagle was difficult,” White said. “The eagle actually escaped the net once and landed back in the tank.” 

After about 20 minutes, White successfully lifted the young female eagle to safety. 

The rescue, however, was only the beginning  

“I was worried about after care for the eagle,” White said. “There aren’t any wildlife clinics that are open on a 24-hour schedule.”  

Determined to give the bird every chance to survive, White transported the eagle to Pender Veterinary Centre in Fairfax County, where overnight staff sedated and bathed the bird multiple times to remove contaminants from its feathers. 

From there, the eagle's recovery became a collaborative effort. Volunteer John Joray with the Wildlife Rescue League transported the eagle to veterinarian Belinda Burwell, DVM, in Winchester, who monitored the bird's health and rehabilitation over the following weeks. 

Once the eagle regained its strength, Joray returned the bird to Prince William County, where White watched as it was released at George Helwig Memorial Park. 

For White, seeing the eagle take flight made the late-night call and lost sleep worthwhile. 

"It felt like a win," White said. "We don't always get happy endings." 

The rescue also reflects the teamwork that made the outcome possible. Galione refused to give up on the stranded birds; White responded after hours to safely remove the eagle; and dedicated wildlife professionals provided the specialized care needed for its recovery. 

Together, their efforts gave the young bald eagle a second chance to return to the wild.