Just in time for America’s birthday, the national symbol of freedom is flying high once again—thanks to a breakthrough treatment and the tireless work of a Wisconsin veterinarian.
Kere, a majestic Bald Eagle, was discovered last September in a Hayward park with a devastating injury: her leg torn open from knee to ankle in a 360-degree wound. Infection had already set in, and with no healthy skin remaining, her chances of survival were slim.
But Bald Eagles aren’t just any bird—they’re living emblems of the American spirit. For Dr. Kim Ammann, founder of Wisconsin’s Winged Freedom Raptor Hospital, saving Kere wasn’t just a mission of medicine—it was a mission of meaning.
“I wasn’t ready to give up,” said Ammann, who rehabilitated over 200 birds last year, including 75 Bald Eagles. With no conventional treatments left to try, she turned to an innovative solution: fish.
Ammann reached out to Kerecis, an Icelandic company that uses intact fish skin from sustainably sourced North Atlantic cod to support tissue regeneration. Though originally developed for humans, the company had recently started offering their grafts for veterinary use.
“Our fish skin grafts are used in a variety of different wounds—traumatic, chronic—you name it,” said Marta Hines, Veterinary Business Development Manager at Kerecis. “When we heard about Kere, we were moved and donated the grafts to help.”
Kere’s treatment marked the first time Kerecis grafts were used on a Bald Eagle. Over the course of 10 months, the cod skin helped regenerate tissue, stave off infection, and give the wounded eagle a second chance.
Throughout her recovery, Kere’s strength and cooperation impressed Ammann deeply. “She tolerated bandage changes every few days—awake, alert, and trusting,” Ammann recalled. “She left the wraps alone, ate well, and took all of her medications. The trust she put in me made it possible to accomplish what we did.”
On June 22, 2025, after nearly a year of care, Kere was released back into the wild.
“Every eagle we rehabilitate might be just one bird,” Ammann said. “But for that bird, it means everything.”
As fireworks light up the sky this Fourth of July, keep an eye out. You might just catch a glimpse of Kere—soaring high and free, a living symbol of resilience and the true spirit of freedom.
