Full Breakdown
Search for Escaped Bald Eagles at Dollywood Intensifies Amid Public Vigil
5/9/2026, 11:10:00 AM
The Escape and Ongoing Search
A storm knocked a century-old tree through the netted enclosure at Dollywood’s Eagle Mountain Sanctuary, freeing three bald eagles—Rockland, Wesley and Caesar. Caesar was recaptured; Rockland and Wesley remain missing as police, park staff and avian specialists hunt for them across Tennessee.
Sanctuary History and Conservation Context
Dollywood and the American Eagle Foundation (AEF) partnered 35 years ago to create the largest sanctuary for non-releasable bald eagles. Since 1991 it has released 185 eagles, helped lift the species from the endangered list in 2007, and educates about 3 million visitors annually.
Key Figures Driving the Response
Lori Moore, AEF CEO, leads the search; James Rogers, AEF chairman, provides oversight; Dolly Parton, Dollywood co-owner, adds national visibility; Michael Patrick Ward, wildlife-biology professor at the University of Illinois, supplies scientific context.
Numbers Behind the Effort
35-year collaboration; 185 eagles released since 1991; about 3 million visitors annually; bald eagle delisted in 2007; Rockland has a displaced wing and Wesley a chronic soldier injury.
On-the-Ground Pursuit
Tips arrived from Indiana, Virginia, Georgia and the Smoky Mountains; a “bird whisperer” captured Caesar after a game of tag. Moore’s chief operating officer drove to sightings; police and park staff set up points. Eagles’ orange and black leg bands enable identification.
Official Statements & Responses
Moore stressed injuries and comfort around people make wild survival unlikely; Rogers warned of entanglement; Ward cited habitat restoration and pesticide regulation as key to recovery; Parton said the search unites a divided public around a shared national symbol.
Criticism & Concerns
Rockland’s displaced wing and Wesley’s chronic injury limit flight, and both are “way too comfortable around people.” Reduced mobility raises collision, predation and starvation risks, emphasizing the need for swift recapture.
Why the Search Resonates Nationally
The bald eagle, a longstanding emblem, draws public interest. Sightings reports have heightened conservation awareness and reinforced Dollywood’s educational mission, showing how a single incident can galvanize nationwide engagement.
Verbatim Quotes
- “He's out misbehaving, and he's trying to get food that he shouldn't be having,” — Lori Moore, CEO, AEF
- “It just makes you want to cry because you're afraid he's going to, you know, tangle with something that he shouldn't and get hurt, and you just can't stand the thoughts of that,” — James Rogers, Chairman, AEF
- “Bald eagles live a long time … decades,” — Michael Ward, Professor, University of Illinois
- “In a time that our country is a little bit divided, having something - even if it's just looking for our national symbol - to unite us all, you can tell people are doing it from the heart,” — Dolly Parton, Singer-songwriter, Dollywood
What’s Next
The AEF keeps issuing alerts, monitoring sightings, and deploying field teams. Officials plan expanded aerial surveys and coordination with local law-enforcement to boost the chances of recapturing Rockland and Wesley before injury or death.
