Three bald eagles have yet to be located after a severe storm on April 19 damaged the 'Eagle Mountain Sanctuary' at 'Dolly Parton's Dollywood' theme park in Tennessee. The enclosure, a significant aviary housing the country's largest collection of non-releasable bald eagles, sustained damage when a tree fell onto it.
The escapees are identified as Rockland, Caesar, and Wesley. All three birds have documented wing injuries, which may affect their flight patterns, suggesting they might still be in the vicinity of the sanctuary.
The 'American Eagle Foundation' (AEF), which manages the sanctuary, is leading the recovery efforts. Park operations around the sanctuary have been temporarily suspended as crews work on repairs and the foundation coordinates capture and recovery. The AEF has urged the public to report any sightings but to maintain a distance and contact them directly.
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MISSING AVIAN INDIVIDUALS
The missing eagles, Rockland, Caesar, and Wesley, are all known to have pre-existing wing injuries.
Rockland exhibits a healed fracture in his right wing and a shortened right ulna, resulting in a displaced wing.
Wesley, a female eagle, is noted to have limited flight ability due to her condition, making her likely to remain relatively close to the sanctuary. Details on Caesar's specific injuries are also available.
A fourth eagle, initially reported to have escaped, was located and is receiving medical attention.
RESPONSE AND RECOVERY
Personnel from the 'American Eagle Foundation' were on-site following the storm, moving eagles from the damaged enclosure to AEF facilities for their safety. Assessments of the structural damage to the 30,000-square-foot aviary are underway, with efforts focused on securing the habitat. The AEF is actively managing the search and recovery operations.
BACKGROUND
The 'Eagle Mountain Sanctuary' at Dollywood serves as a crucial habitat for bald eagles that are unable to be released back into the wild. The sanctuary is home to the largest gathering of such eagles in the United States. The severe thunderstorms that caused the damage occurred over the weekend of April 18-19, 2026. As of April 27, 2026, the three eagles remained missing.
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