An epic fight between bald eagles in the skies over Saanich recently ended with one of the majestic birds, a female, falling to the ground, wounded.
The incident occurred in the neighbourhood of Kari Marks, manager of the SPCA鈥檚 wild animal recovery centre, at 1020 Malloch Rd. in Metchosin, so the bird was quickly taken into care and treated for multiple lacerations.
Caregivers at Wild ARC discovered a 鈥渂rooding patch鈥� on its abdomen, a naturally occurring bald patch 鈥渨hich means it has eggs or is about to have eggs,鈥� Marks said.
The discovery posed a bit of an issue, she said, because it indicated the welfare of another generation of eagles was at stake.
鈥淕enerally, we keep them in a little longer for observation, but she鈥檚 had to go,鈥� Marks said.
The eagle was released Tuesday near Beckwith Park. It circled the Wild ARC staff and volunteers and the class from Reynolds High School that came out to witness the event. Then the bird flew away.
It鈥檚 just another of countless stories of wildlife helped by people at the Metchosin facility. This case was unusual in that the harm was done by another bird. Usually, animals arriving at Wild ARC have suffered from conflicts with humans, said Marks.
鈥淭he animals keep coming and we keep growing, because of the animals,鈥� Marks said.
The centre has a new aquatics facility up and running, which features deep pools to teach river otters to fish and seabirds to dive.
鈥淲e鈥檙e continuing to expand both through the generosity of people and volunteers,鈥� Marks said.
The facility is funded almost totally by public donations. Its budget is $550,000 a year, which includes animal enclosures, specialized care and medical supplies.
鈥淭he food alone is huge,鈥� Marks said. 鈥淎 lot of people bring in bird feed, but there鈥檚 a lot of specialized food we need that you can鈥檛 pick up from the grocery stores, like deer formula.鈥�
Wild ARC also has 150 to 180 volunteers who assist with animal care, education and construction.
Some volunteers are long-term 鈥渁nd very invested in the place,鈥� said Marks, but there is always room for newcomers.
Currently, Wild ARC is hosting volunteers from Germany who are here for an eight-week stint.
Wild ARC isn鈥檛 a zoo and isn鈥檛 open to the public, except on its annual open house, which began Saturday and continues from noon to 4 p.m. today.
It鈥檚 the only opportunity the public has to tour the facility, open since 1997, and see how it cares for nearly 2,500 injured and orphaned animals a year. Donations are accepted.
鈥淲hen people do find animals, they should have the peace of mind to know that there is somebody who will look after them in an appropriate manner,鈥� Marks said.
Injured or sick animals can be dropped off at Central Victoria Animal Hospital at 760 Roderick St. in Victoria or Central Saanich Veterinary Hospital, 1782 Stellys Cross Rd., where they will be picked up and taken to Wild ARC.
