Eagle receives mouth-to-beak resuscitation

BEND, Ore., July 17 (UPI) -- A Bend, Ore., veterinarian says he resuscitated a badly injured bald eagle by performing mouth-to-beak CPR on the raptor.

The eagle, recently named "Patriot," was found by two women in June after he was hit by a car, KTVZ-TV reported. He was well on his way to recovery; his fractured wing and dislocated elbow and wrist are all healing, Dr. Jeff Cooney of Bend Veterinary Clinic said.

However, last Wednesday during an exam and physical therapy, while under anesthesia, Patriot stopped breathing. Cooney stepped in and performed CPR until the bird started breathing again.

It is unclear as to whether or not Patriot will be able to be put back into the wild.

"The dislocated shoulder and his paralyzed right leg are his major problems right now," Cooney said Friday, adding that he may he forced to euthanize the bird, rather than letting Patriot continue living in pain.

For now, the eagle is doing fine, and the next three weeks will tell his fate.

"If he could live, any facility (for raptors) would like to have him," Cooney said. "He was just hurt so bad."