Last week I described a young eaglet that was heading to our veterinary hospital for care. Although we love working with the birds they are usually crawling with lice from head to toe. Simply holding the birds you see a small army climbing up your arm to quickly invade your head hair. Fortunately they don't live and breed on people but during the duration the day they are on you they can create a bit of an itch.
Randy was holding the eaglet and wearing a light tan smock the lice were visible all over his clothing. He proceeded to x-ray the bird and as I examined the young eaglet and looked at the x-ray I was disappointed to see a break in the wing bone close to the shoulder. The eaglet would have to stay in captivity until the bone had properly healed.
There are a few different species of lice that live on Bald Eagles and one of them is the world's largest louse almost two centimeters in length. I wanted a few to have on display to show the class tours and have at my lectures about eagles.
"Can you save me a few of the large lice if you can grab them," I called to Randy in radiology.
"What do you want them for ……… pets?" he asked with a laugh.
"No," I would I replied, " I would but I hear they make lousy pets!"
