Birds of Prey Northwest rescues orphaned bald eagle chicks near Coeur d’Alene
Two 4-week-old bald eagles were flown to Coeur d’Alene after an accident near Ketchum orphaned them, and Avista will help raise them for release back to the wild.
An accident near Ketchum left two 4-week-old bald eagle chicks without their parents, and Birds of Prey Northwest flew them to Coeur d’Alene for the next step in rehabilitation. An adult eagle named Avista will help foster the young birds.
Jane and Don Veltkamp, the husband-and-wife team behind the St. Maries-based nonprofit, said the chicks will not be given names because the goal is to return them to the wild, not keep them as permanent residents. Caretakers will feed and monitor the birds until they are strong enough to be released.
Avista’s role is part of what makes the rehabilitation process work. The Veltkamps said adult eagles naturally foster young birds, giving the chicks the kind of care they would receive in a wild setting while they recover in human hands. That blend of wild behavior and expert supervision has defined Birds of Prey Northwest for decades.
The organization said it celebrated 33 years as a nonprofit in 2026 and estimates the Veltkamps have saved thousands of birds over their lives. Its work reaches beyond rescue alone. Birds of Prey Northwest also brings live birds to schools, libraries, public events and conferences, using the birds themselves to teach stewardship and conservation across North Idaho.
The need has stayed high. In 2025, Birds of Prey Northwest said it took in 12 bald eagles in two months, a record number in such a short period. A January 2026 report said rehabilitating each eagle costs thousands of dollars, while the annual food bill for the raptors is about $40,000. The nonprofit relies on private donations, grants, sponsorships and volunteers to keep that work going.
Birds of Prey Northwest has also collaborated with the Coeur d’Alene Tribe on aviary work and raptor education, adding another layer to its regional role. For Kootenai County and the wider area, the orphaned chicks near Ketchum are a reminder that a single accident can send vulnerable raptors into costly care, and that the return path to the sky depends on a local rehabilitation network strong enough to meet the demand.
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