An injured American bald eagle found in a field in Powell Butte is recovering after surgery at the Think Wild wildlife center in Bend. Staff at the clinic are optimistic that the female eagle will fully recover following orthopedic surgery.

The 2- or 3-year-old eagle was found on March 16 by a Powell Butte resident. The raptor was kept warm overnight and then transported to Think Wild by an Oregon State Police trooper. Clinic staff found multiple traumatic injuries, including a fracture on its left femur and a fracture in its left shoulder girdle.

Other signs of trauma included a fractured beak tip, wing bruising and chronic neurologic issues.

Pauline Hice, director of wildlife rehabilitation for the clinic, said the cause of the injuries cannot be determined with certainty, but two scenarios are possible — either a territorial dispute or being hit by a car.

“Because she was found in the middle of the field, we’re not really sure what caused it,” she said, adding that blunt force trauma caused by a car is the more likely scenario.

Hice said the injuries probably occurred around two days before the raptor was found in the field.

Think Wild’s veterinary team conducted surgery to repair the eagle’s femur four days after it was found in the field. Radiographs will be taken every two weeks to monitor the healing process. The fracture is expected to heal in four to six weeks.

Once the fracture is healed, work can be done to get the eagle in a condition to perch and eventually fly again. In a best-case scenario, Hice says, the eagle could be released in June.

If recovery is not possible due to the extent of its injuries or head trauma, the eagle will be euthanized. Hice says euthanasia is necessary because placing a wild adult raptor in an enclosed environment offers it a poor quality of life.

“We always make decisions, whatever is the best thing for the animal. And sometimes that is making that difficult decision to end their suffering because the alternative would not be ending their suffering, essentially,” said Hice.

The cost to feed, treat and care for the eagle while it stays at Think Wild could be around $2,000, said Hice. The non-profit organization accepts donations to support the recovery of this raptor, as well as the other animals under its care.