Rescued bald eagle succumbs to complications

Sunday, March 29, 2026 at 11:06 AM

By Paul Gable

Shortly after the beginning of the new year, the Putnam County Sheriff's Office and Indiana Conservation Officer Nick Hartman rescued an injured Bald Eagle near Morton.

At the time, the plan was to nurse the bird back to full health and release it back into the wild, where it was originally found. However, Putnam County Sheriff Jerrod Baugh took to social media this week to announce the eagle had passed away.

In a statement released on Facebook, Baugh said the eagle was transported to a wildlife rehabilitation center and had passed away due to "unforeseen complications."

"Despite the dedicated efforts of those who worked tirelessly to care for it, the outcome was not what we had all hoped for. We are grateful to the rehabilitation team for their compassion and commitment, and to our community for the support and concern shown during this time," Baugh wrote.

Baugh said the eagle is a "powerful symbol of strength and freedom."

"Its presence reminds us of the beauty of our natural world and the values we hold dear as a nation," he said.