Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) Fact Sheet: Managed Care

(Arent 2007) (Garcelon & Bogue 1977) (Palmer 1988)

• Permits are required to keep these raptors in managed care in the U.S.; private individuals may not keep Golden Eagles as pets
• Contact local Fish and Game offices in U.S. for raptor rehabilitation centers for injured and sick birds.
  • In California, contact: http://www.dfg.ca.gov/wildlife/rehab/facilities.html
  • Golden Eagles brought to rehabilitation centers are most often suffering from:
    • Gunshot wounds
    • Eating poisoned rodents
    • Being hit by vehicles
    • Electrocution (less of a problem than in the past)
    • Lead poisoning
• Care of eagles in licensed facilities, accredited zoos: (Garcelon & Bogue 1977)
  • Overgrown beaks must be trimmed; cracked beaks can be helped to grow rapidly by knox gelatin
  • Talons should be trimmed; untrimmed talons curl and may jab the bottom of the foot.
  • Eagles in an aviary need at least a space 12 m (40 ft) long by 6 m (20 ft) by 2 m (7 ft) tall for proper exercise
  • Young eagles should be kept in a nest box when orphaned until they are fully feathered
  • Young eagles need to first learn to kill small prey; they are easily frightened by aggressive prey
  • Red items excite golden eagles, as does the sight of blood; they will attack people wearing red
  • Fresh water very important; they bathe frequently and drink large amounts
  • These birds are extremely powerful and can inflict severe damage; they should never be accessible to children and pets
• Male Golden Eagles are "sulkier, more temperamental, quieter than female golden." (Garcelon & Bogue 1977)
• Tame Golden Eagles can be returned to wild after spending time in an aviary with wild raptors.(Garcelon & Bogue 1977)

A Golden Eagle in training at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park.

Thick leather gloves are used to protect the keeper's arm from the Golden Eagle's sharp talons.

Image credit: © San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance. All rights reserved.

Image note: This is a cropped image.