Sanctuary Treats Two Bald Eagles in Days
PAWS Animal Wildlife Sanctuary is asking for donations to cover care costs and expand its aging facility after taking in two injured eagles.
Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Wildlife
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PAWS Animal Wildlife Sanctuary took in two bald eagles within days of each other. The first, found weak and unable to fly at Lake Greenwood, is recovering, while the second, struck by a car, did not survive.
Why it matters
The sanctuary is funded entirely by donations and says the number of animals arriving at its doors grows by 30% to 50% every year. Its current facility was built more than 20 years ago, straining resources as demand rises.
PAWS reports that animal arrivals rise 30% to 50% each year, a pace that its roughly 20-year-old facility was not built to handle. The exact cost of care and expansion has not been disclosed.
The players
PAWS Animal Wildlife Sanctuary
A donation-funded wildlife rehabilitation facility in the Upstate region of South Carolina that holds more state and federal wildlife permits than any other facility in the state.
South Carolina Department of Natural Resources
The state agency responsible for managing South Carolina's wildlife and natural resources, which transported the second eagle to the sanctuary.
The details
Volunteers captured the first eagle, named Betsy Ross, which was weak, underweight and unable to fly, and she has a roundworm infection that is being treated with medication. The second eagle was brought in on Friday by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources after being hit by a car and did not survive.
Timeline
Last Monday: First eagle found at Lake Greenwood.
Friday: South Carolina Department of Natural Resources brings second eagle to the sanctuary.
Wildlife Context
As bald eagle numbers have rebounded since their removal from the federal endangered species list in 2007, rehabilitators across South Carolina are seeing more birds injured by vehicles and other human-made hazards. PAWS's rising intake fits that pattern of growing interactions between eagles and roadways.
Residents who want to help can donate directly to PAWS to fund eagle care and facility expansion. Anyone who finds an injured bird should contact a licensed rehabilitator or the state wildlife agency rather than attempting rescue alone.
The takeaway
Donations from the public are what keep wildlife rehabilitation running, and rising intake shows how quickly demand can outpace facilities. Supporting local rehabilitators is one of the most direct ways to help injured wildlife.
Further reading
Explore more wildlife rescue stories from across the state.
More information
You can support the sanctuary's work through its PAWS donation page.
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