SALINAS — The SPCA Monterey County Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Center hasn’t had much time off during the holidays, recently rescuing an injured bald eagle and, in another incident, 13 Common Murres that were covered in oil.
The organization is currently still caring for the bald eagle, which they rescued last week in Salinas. The SCPA reported in a press release that the eagle had serious injuries, including a broken coracoid, a bone that connects a bird’s shoulder to its keel, enabling flight.
The SPCA said the eagle may have also been electrocuted, but electrocution is a slow-developing injury and can take several days or weeks for symptoms to become fully visible. The eagle “has a very guarded prognosis” because of this, meaning his condition is serious and the outcome is uncertain.
According to the press release, the wildlife team is doing all they can and providing “skilled care and monitoring” to the eagle. The SPCA is asking for donations at www.spcamc.org/eagle to give the eagle “the best possible chance to recover and fly free again.”
Since Dec. 23, the SPCA’s wildlife team has also rescued 13 Common Murres that were covered in oil. The oiling is from natural seepage in Monterey Bay, “which has been stirred up by recent powerful winter storms.”
The murres are currently emaciated, hypothermic and suffering from compromised waterproofing. Some of the murres also have burns due to the oiling.
Wildlife rescue staff at the SPCA are providing essential fluids, medication and specialized nutrition to stabilize the birds.
Common Murres are a sleek, black-and-white pelagic bird that are often mistaken for penguins on shore, according to the SPCA. The birds spend their lives at sea, so finding them on a local beach is “a clear sign of serious distress.”
The SPCA is also accepting donations at www.spcamc.org/wild to help care for the murres. They are also asking that anyone who sees a murre in need of rescue to contact them.
If possible, the SPCA says you can use a towel or blanket to gently pick up the bird and place it in a well-ventilated box to bring it to their facilities. To learn more about safe containment, head to www.spcamc.org/wildlife.
If safe containment is not possible, the SPCA asks you to call their Wildlife Center at (831) 264-5427 during normal business hours and to stay near the bird, tracking its location while they get on site.
The SPCA Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Center is the only full-service wildlife rehabilitation center in Monterey County, and rescued almost 2,900 wild animals in 2025.
