PULLMAN – Potlatch Corporation has donated $25,000 to the Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine’s Raptor Rehabilitation Fund.
To commemorate the event, company officials will join WSU in releasing a golden eagle back to the wild Thursday, March 22, near Deary, Idaho, at 10 a.m. The cash gift is earmarked specifically for construction of an eagle flight training enclosure; a structure WSU has needed but never had.
“This gift is a Godsend,” said Erik Stauber, veterinarian and head of the college’s Raptor Rehabilitation program for more than two decades. “For many years, this college has worked hard to care for raptors and whenever possible return them to the wild. Medical care for these birds is a vital component of a complete professional veterinary education, our ethics, and our sense of compassion. It is remarkable that a major corporation like Potlatch wisely understands the value of these birds and shares our concern for their well-being and the well-being of the environment we share. We are very thankful to Potlatch for this extraordinary gift.”
“Potlach has had a long and mutually beneficially relationship with WSU’s veterinary college and specifically the raptor center,” said Brent Stinnett, Potlach’s resource vice president. “We are pleased to continue to support the university in this important effort to do our part in helping ensure the survival of raptors on both public and private lands.”
“Potlach’s 600,000 acres of Idaho forestlands are home to many species of raptors, so it makes good sense for Potlach to share data and knowledge about raptors with WSU,” said Potlach’s Wildlife Biologist Brian Moser. “We conduct ongoing cooperative research projects with the college that not only help the scientific community, but directly benefit the birds themselves.”
“Corporate entities like Potlatch Corporation take stewardship of their lands and associated wildlife very seriously,” said Warwick Bayly, dean of WSU’s veterinary college. “If we can be of service to that effort and responsibility, I believe it sets a moral benchmark for our students.”
The golden eagle set to be released was sent to WSU for advanced care by another raptor rehabilitator. The bird was discovered unable to fly near Okanogan, Wash., several months ago. Wing fractures of unknown origin prevented the bird from flying and have since healed successfully. Before it was sent to WSU, it was thought that the bird, although healed, may not
fly again.
“Many times, eagles will heal a wing like this and then go through a sort of localized reaction and lose the feathers on the affected side,” explained Dr. Stauber. “As the feathers grow back, the bird will often show no, or poor, flight ability initially and people think they will never fly again. Over time though, we have seen many of these birds regain full flight ability. It is a matter of being patient beyond the time that fractures heal and giving the bird time to recuperate from the overall trauma.”
About Potlatch Corporation:
Potlatch is a real estate investment trust (REIT) with approximately 1.5 million acres of forestland in Arkansas, Idaho, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Oregon. Through its taxable REIT subsidiary, the company also operates 13 manufacturing facilities that produce lumber and panel products and bleached pulp products, including paperboard and tissue. The company also conducts a land sales and development business through its taxable REIT subsidiary. Potlatch, a verified forest practices leader, is committed to providing superior returns to stockholders through long-term stewardship of its resources.
