
From Near Death To Freedom: WI Eagle’s Incredible Comeback
When a devastating injury grounded a majestic Bald Eagle in Wisconsin, her chances of survival seemed almost impossible. But thanks to an innovative procedure and months of care, she’s now soaring free, just in time for the Fourth of July.
If you like a tale with a happy ending, you'll love this story. And seeing as it involves both animals and the incredible Winged Freedom Animal Hospital in Spooner, Wisconsin (not too far from Minnesota), it's become my favorite of the year so far!
It starts with the sorry state of the majestic Bald Eagle, Kere. She was found last September at a park in Hayward, Wisconsin, in need of help. When rescuers found her, she was in critical condition with her leg torn open from knee to ankle in a devastating 360-degree wound.
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Fortunately for Kere, veterinarian Kim Ammann, founder of Wisconsin’s Winged Freedom Raptor Hospital, jumped right into action with an unconventional plan to save the injured raptor-- using a technique never tried on a Bald Eagle before.
Now, Dr. Ammann is no stranger to helping birds like Kere. She treated more than 200 birds last year alone, including 75 Bald Eagles. That experience led her to discover the Icelandic company, Kerecis. It uses intact fish skin from 'sustainably sourced North Atlantic Cod to support tissue regeneration,' a release said.
Now, while that technique has been used many times on humans, it had just recently adapted its skin grafts for veterinary medical use. But they had never been tried on a Bald Eagle before. And once Kerecis heard about Kere's plight, they provided the necessary materials for her recovery at no cost, the release said.
And, the treatment worked, as the press release from the Winged Freedom Raptor Hospital explains:
Over the course of 10 months, the cod skin grafts helped regenerate Kere’s tissue and fight off infection, offering a remarkable new lifeline to a bird who represents resilience and liberty.
Dr. Ammann says she was impressed with Kere's drive and resilience during her 10-month recovery, and how she 'left the wraps and dressings alone' and took the necessary medications as well, both things Bald Eagles aren't necessarily used to doing.
And in the ultimate happy ending, Kere was released back into the wild on June 22, 2025-- just in time for this year's Fourth of July celebrations-- and is now 'soaring over the very lands her image represents,' the release said.
I'm in awe of this story and the incredible work of Dr. Ammann and the staff at the Winged Freedom Raptor Hospital! As the release said, 'For those who look to the sky this Fourth of July, Kere is a powerful reminder of what freedom truly looks like.'
If you'd like more information or would like to make a donation to the Winged Freedom Raptor Hospital and its mission to protect America’s most iconic birds, click here!
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Gallery Credit: Ken Hayes