CHRISTINE'S CRITTERS
Non-profit 501 (c)(3) located in Fairfield County, Connecticut
Aurora's Story:
From the Wild to a New Purpose
The open road can be an unpredictable place, even for a creature of the skies. Somewhere along the highways of Missouri, a Bald Eagle was soaring above the landscape, unaware that her life was about to change forever.
In a split second, it happened. A truck, barreling down the interstate, collided with her mid-flight. The force of the impact sent her plummeting toward the ground, her body meeting the pavement in a tangle of feathers and pain.
Since fledging the nest, Aurora had spent her life mastering the skies. But now, grounded and gravely injured, she faced an uncertain future.
Rescue and Rehabilitation
When wildlife officers in Missouri arrived, they found Aurora alive but struggling. The injury to her left wing was a severe fracture to her metacarpal bones that left her unable to fly.
She was taken to the Raptor Rehabilitation Center in Quincy, Illinois, where specialists worked tirelessly to assess her condition and determine her chances of survival.
Despite months of care, it became clear: Aurora would never fly well enough to return to the wild. For three long years, she remained at the rehabilitation center, waiting for a permanent home.
The Journey to Christine’s Critters
In 2016, Christine’s Critters stepped in. The process wasn’t simple; housing a Bald Eagle requires a federal eagle exhibition permit, and her care would be a lifelong responsibility. But Christine’s Critters was ready to give Aurora the home she had been waiting 3 years for.
The journey to bring her home was no small feat. Christine and her mom, Betsy, flew from Connecticut to Illinois. After years of uncertainty, Aurora finally had a place to call home.
With care and patience, she was placed in a carrier and loaded into a rental car for the 17 hour journey back to Connecticut.
Learning to Trust Again
Arriving at Christine’s Critters was just the beginning. Aurora had survived trauma, spent years in rehabilitation, and now faced a new challenge: learning to trust people.
This wasn’t something that happened overnight. It took daily effort, endless patience, and countless hours of slow, careful work to build the trust needed for her to become an ambassador.
For nearly two years, Christine and her team worked with Aurora, one day at a time. Slowly but surely, Aurora began to recognize that the people around her weren’t a threat. They were there to support her. She learned to step onto the glove, to remain calm in front of an audience, and to understand that her new purpose was one of education.
And when she was ready, she began her new role as an educational ambassador.
An Ambassador for Conservation
Once Aurora embraced her role, she connected with thousands of people through educational programs.
Her message was powerful. She became a leading voice in educating the public about:
Lead poisoning in raptors – How ingesting lead from spent ammunition or left over fishing weights in the wild continues to harm eagles today.
The conservation success of the 1972 DDT Ban – How policy changes saved the Bald Eagle from extinction.
Aurora became an irreplaceable part of Christine’s Critters, traveling across Connecticut and beyond to
inspire change and deepen people’s appreciation for wildlife.
She thrived in this role for years, until life threw another challenge her way...
A New Battle:
Health Challenges &
Transitioning to Virtual Programs
In 2021, at her yearly visit at the Veterinarian, our team noticed something concerning: a growth on Aurora’s wing. At first, it wasn’t clear how serious it would become, but as time passed, the tumor continued to grow.
.
It was identified as a Xanthoma, a condition that can affect birds, forming a non-cancerous but often invasive tumor.
At first, Aurora was still able to participate in programs, but over time, the tumor began to interfere with her ability to comfortably extend her wing. It became clear that continuing in-person education wasn’t in her best interest.
Christine’s Critters made the difficult but necessary decision: Aurora would no longer travel for programs. Instead, she slowly transitioned to virtual education, reaching millions of people through TikTok and other online platforms.
Even though she could no longer be physically present at events, her impact only grew. Through the power of digital storytelling, Aurora continued educating people across the world about Bald Eagles, conservation, and the importance of protecting raptors.
But in Spring 2024, her Xanthoma continued to grow.
The growth had reached a point where it was causing her discomfort living within her aviary. After careful consultation with the veterinarian, the decision was made to move forward with a partial wing amputation procedure to remove the portion of her wrist that had been infiltrated by the tumor.
Aurora’s Recovery and Future
Today, Aurora is healing beautifully in her aviary and adjusting well after her surgery.
We're thrilled to share that she’s doing remarkably well, and will soon be returning to select live programs that are a great fit for her comfort and continued recovery.
She’s never stopped making an impact. Through our virtual programs, Aurora has continued to inspire and educate audiences across the country and from around the world.
Now, as she steps back into the spotlight at in-person events, her story shines brighter than ever. Not as one of loss, but of resilience, adaptability, and hope.
Why Aurora Needs You
Caring for a Bald Eagle is a lifelong commitment. Aurora requires:
A specialized diet – Fresh fish and high-quality nutrition to keep her healthy.
Medical care – Ongoing check-ups and post-surgery recovery support.
Aviary maintenance – A safe, enriching space where she can thrive.
Education programs – Outreach efforts to continue spreading her message virtually.
Aurora’s Journey Didn’t End With Her Injury.
With Your Help, It’s Just Beginning.
Aurora may never fly again, but thanks to people like you,
Her message will never be silenced.
Thank you for believing in second chances. Aurora can continue to educate and inspire others to protect wildlife and the wild spaces they call home.
How You Can Help
Aurora's Story: From the Wild to a New Purpose
The open road can be an unpredictable place, even for a creature of the skies. Somewhere along the highways of Missouri, a Bald Eagle was soaring above the landscape, unaware that her life was about to change forever.
In a split second, it happened. A truck, barreling down the interstate, collided with her mid-flight. The force of the impact sent her plummeting toward the ground, her body meeting the pavement in a tangle of feathers and pain.
Since fledging the nest, Aurora had spent her life mastering the skies. But now, grounded and gravely injured, she faced an uncertain future.
Rescue and Rehabilitation
When wildlife officers in Missouri arrived, they found Aurora alive but struggling. The injury to her left wing was a severe fracture to her metacarpal bones that left her unable to fly.
She was taken to the Raptor Rehabilitation Center in Quincy, Illinois, where specialists worked tirelessly to assess her condition and determine her chances of survival.
Despite months of care, it became clear: Aurora would never fly well enough to return to the wild. For three long years, she remained at the rehabilitation center, waiting for a permanent home.
The Journey to Christine’s Critters
In 2016, Christine’s Critters stepped in. The process wasn’t simple; housing a Bald Eagle requires a federal eagle exhibition permit, and her care would be a lifelong responsibility. But Christine’s Critters was ready to give Aurora the home she had been waiting 3 years for.
The journey to bring her home was no small feat. Christine and her mom, Betsy, flew from Connecticut to Illinois. After years of uncertainty, Aurora finally had a place to call home.
With care and patience, she was placed in a carrier and loaded into a rental car for the 17 hour journey back to Connecticut.
Learning to Trust Again
Arriving at Christine’s Critters was just the beginning. Aurora had survived trauma, spent years in rehabilitation, and now faced a new challenge: learning to trust people.
This wasn’t something that happened overnight.
It took daily effort, endless patience, and countless hours of slow, careful work to build the trust needed for her to become an ambassador.
For nearly two years, Christine and her team worked with Aurora, one day at a time. Slowly but surely, Aurora began to recognize that the people around her weren’t a threat. They were there to support her. She learned to step onto the glove, to remain calm in front of an audience, and to understand that her new purpose was one of education.
And when she was ready, she began her new role as an educational ambassador.
An Ambassador for Conservation
Once Aurora was ready, she began traveling the state of CT and connected with thousands of people through educational programs.
Her message was powerful, and she became a leading voice in educating the public about:
Lead poisoning in raptors – How ingesting lead from spent ammunition or left over fishing weights in the wild continues to harm eagles today.
The conservation success of the 1972 DDT Ban – How policy changes saved the Bald Eagle from extinction.
Aurora became an irreplaceable part of Christine’s Critters, traveling across Connecticut and beyond to
inspire change and deepen people’s appreciation for wildlife.
She thrived in this role for years, until life threw another challenge her way...
A New Battle: Health Challenges &
Transitioning to Virtual Programs
In 2021, at her yearly visit at the Veterinarian, our team noticed something concerning: a growth on Aurora’s wing. At first, it wasn’t clear how serious it would become, but as time passed, the tumor continued to grow.
.
It was identified as a Xanthoma, a condition that can affect birds, forming a non-cancerous but often invasive tumor.
At first, Aurora was still able to participate in programs, but over time, the Xanthoma began to interfere with her ability to comfortably extend her wing. It became clear that continuing in-person education wasn’t in her best interest.
Christine’s Critters made the difficult but necessary decision: Aurora would no longer travel for programs. Instead, she slowly transitioned to virtual education, reaching millions of people through TikTok and other online platforms.
Even though she could no longer be physically present at events, her impact only grew. Through the power of digital storytelling, Aurora continued educating people across the world about Bald Eagles, conservation, and the importance of protecting raptors.
But in Spring 2024, her Xanthoma continued to grow.
The growth had reached a point where it was causing her discomfort living within her aviary. After careful consultation with the veterinarian, Christine’s Critters made the difficult decision to move forward with a partial wing amputation procedure to remove the portion of her wrist that had been infiltrated by the tumor.
Aurora’s Recovery and Future
Today, Aurora is healing beautifully in her aviary and adjusting well after her surgery.
While we were once uncertain about her future as an in-person ambassador, we're thrilled to share that she’s doing remarkably well, and will soon be returning to select live programs that are a great fit for her comfort and continued recovery.
She’s never stopped making an impact. Through our virtual programs, Aurora has continued to inspire and educate audiences across the country and from around the world.
Now, as she steps back into the spotlight at in-person events, her story shines brighter than ever. Not as one of loss, but of resilience, adaptability, and hope.
Why Aurora Needs You
Caring for a Bald Eagle is a lifelong commitment. Aurora requires:
A specialized diet – Fresh fish and high-quality nutrition to keep her healthy.
Medical care – Ongoing check-ups and post-surgery recovery support.
Aviary maintenance – A safe, enriching space where she can thrive.
Education programs – Outreach efforts to continue spreading her message virtually.
Christine’s Critters receives no government funding
Every meal, every vet visit, and every moment of care for Aurora is made possible through the generosity of people like you.
By sponsoring Aurora, you become a part of her journey.
You ensure that her story continues to inspire, educate, and protect the future of Bald Eagles everywhere.
How You Can Help
🦅 Bronze Sponsorship – $5/month
Monthly newsletter updates on Aurora
Access To Our Private Facebook Community!
Digital Adoption Certificate after 3 months!
Group Zoom Program Invite after ONE YEAR!
🦅 Silver Sponsorship – $15/month
All Bronze perks
Personalized thank-you video from Aurora’s caretakers after 3 months
Aurora Stuffed Animal mailed to you after 6 months
🦅 Gold Sponsorship – $25/month
All Silver perks
A Thank You Placard in Aurora's enclosure
Private 15-Minute Zoom Session With Christine + A Bird Of Your Choice after a year of sponsorship
Your Name Will Be Listed As An Official Sponsor On Our Website
Christine’s Critters receives no government funding. Every meal, every vet visit, and every moment of care for Aurora is made possible through the generosity of people like you.
Aurora may never fly again, but thanks to people like you,
Her message will never be silenced.
Thank you for believing in second chances. Aurora can continue to educate and inspire others to protect wildlife and the wild spaces they call home.
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