CRANE – After 52 days of rehabilitation, a bald eagle who was named Christmas was released into the wild Tuesday at Naval Support Activity Crane at Lake Gallimore.
Nearly two months ago, employees noticed a female eagle who could not fly properly and summoned help. They contacted the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, which coordinated the safe capture and rehabilitation of the bird. Robert “Angel” Lange, a Navy veteran who now works as a wildlife rehabilitator nursed the eagle back to health.
Christmas had a puncture wound to her breast and an infected wing. Lange speculates the wound could have been caused during mating or while the bird was adding sticks to a nest.
With 63,000 acres of largely forested lands, three pristine lakes, and dozens of ponds, officials say Naval Support Activity Crane. provides an ideal environment for bald eagles and other wildlife.
Two other bald eagles watched from their perch in a tree above their nest, one of two active nests at Crane. Bald eagles lay their eggs later from December through February.
