Ozzie passes away Tuesday evening at CROW
“It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Ozzie”
Those words will be felt around Lee County and the thousands of followers of the Southwest Florida Eagle Cam, after Ozzie the bald eagle and famed cam star succumbed to his injuries Tuesday night during his second stay at CROW.
Ozzie, who is reported to have been 20-plus years old, was recently brought back to CROW last Sunday evening, after suffering multiple severe lacerations and a broken toe in each foot.
He was brought in by a CROW volunteer, after being found weak and and injured in a North Fort Myers’ backyard and was in critical condition when he arrived at the clinic Sunday evening.
An infected wound on his right hip was cleaned out Monday morning by CROW’s hospital director Dr. Heather Barron and staff. He was also diagnosed with septicemia (a bacterial blood infection).
“It is highly likely these injuries were sustained from a fight with another bald eagle near the nest that was documented on the Southwest Florida Eagle Cam Facebook page,” a prepared statement from CROW states. “It was also reported he was entangled in barbed wire.”
A necropsy will be performed on Ozzie at the Southeastern Cooperative Wildlife Disease Study at the University of Georgia.
“We would like to thank everyone for their support and unwavering belief in CROW during Ozzie’s rehabilitation and recent stay,” the CROW release states. “Your endless words of encouragement carried the CROW staff through challenging times.”