Bald eagle rescued from Weeki Wachee River released after 49-day rehab

Rescuers found a bald eagle entangled in river vines along the Weeki Wachee River and the bird was released back into the wild on Feb. 17, 2026 after 49 days of rehabilitation at the Raptor Center of Tampa Bay. The rescue and subsequent care ended a 49-day recovery that began when the bird was first taken into care on Dec. 30, 2025.

The Raptor Center of Tampa Bay provided the full span of treatment and monitoring during the 49-day stay. Staff at the center oversaw the bird’s rehabilitation from the initial entanglement extraction through medical observation and fitness assessments, culminating in the release on Feb. 17. The center’s role in returning the bird to free flight was central to the timeline and outcome.

The Weeki Wachee River location is significant for Hernando County bird populations, and the rescue underscores ongoing wildlife response work in the county’s waterways. Local rescuers who located the eagle on Dec. 30, 2025 removed it from the vine entanglement that threatened its mobility and survival before transferring the bird to the Raptor Center of Tampa Bay for extended care.

Residents who follow wildlife sightings in Hernando County can note the coordinated effort between river-area rescuers and the Raptor Center of Tampa Bay that produced a successful release on Feb. 17, 2026. The 49-day rehabilitation stands as a concrete measure of the time and resources required to restore a large raptor found in a perilous condition along the Weeki Wachee River.