With only 5 days remaining until the presidential inauguration, Barack seemed a fitting nickname for the rescued eagle. The eagle was rescued by one of the Virginia Beach SPCA's Wildlife Program volunteers. On January 15th, 2009 Sarah Kessler, a state and federally permitted wildlife rehabilitator, received a call about an injured eagle from residents neighboring a corn field. The eagle was suffering from an infected wing injury. VBSPCA staff and volunteers rallied to assist Sarah by arranging to have the eagle transported to the Carolina Raptor Center, nearly 6.5 hours away.