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PPL Power Lines Shocking Baby Eagles

TOBYHANNA TOWNSHIP — A power line in the Poconos is causing big problems for some baby eagles. One died after being shocked and another was seriously inju...

TOBYHANNA TOWNSHIP -- A power line in the Poconos is causing big problems for some baby eagles. One died after being shocked and another was seriously injured.

Game Commission officials said both eaglets were living in a nest in Pocono Lake Reserve off Route 940 near Blakeslee when PPL Power lines somehow shocked them within the past week.

Kathy Uhler is helping the surviving baby bald eagle at the Pocono Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation Center near Stroudsburg.

"These injuries truly are a lot more severe than they look on the outside which is difficult for us because it knocks the heck out of them just like being electrocuted would do to a person,” said Uhler.

It’s the second eaglet this week that’s had scorched talons and wings. PA Game Commission officials say it’s happening inside Pocono Lake Reserve near Blakeslee.

"We found the eagle. It was on the ground. It did not make any attempt to fly. I grabbed it, put it in the crate. It had some obvious burn wounds on the talons,” said Wildlife Conservation Officer Bryan Mowrer.

Now Uhler works to give pain medicine and fluids to the bird so it can go to a vet in Bethlehem. The other eaglet had to be put down. Officials believe the bird’s wings hit the lines as they were going to perch on a PPL pole while watching for fish in the lake.

"It's just a chance location that these eagles are using the opportunity to view the water and unfortunately it's happening,” said Mowrer.

Wildlife experts say it's actually more common than you might think for birds to be electrocuted on power lines just like these. "Usually one or two a year and those are just the ones that are found, or the ones that are alive that can still be brought to us,” said Uhler.

Now wildlife officials are reaching out to PPL for help, trying to stop any further harm to the one eaglet still left in that nest.

"They are this year's babies. They are just out of the nest and we probably will have two of them that are gone,” said Uhler.

Pocono Wildlife said the second eaglet is now back from the vet and on lots of medications. Donations are needed to help with its care.

ppl insulators

PPL officials tell Newswatch 16 that late Wednesday afternoon two crews were on site installing a hard plastic cover to protect the other eaglet from being shocked.

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