1 Of 3 Missing Bald Eagles From Dollywood Found — Public Urged To Help
on Apr 24, 2026 • Updated May 04, 2026
Storms Led To Damage To Enclosure Housing The Nation’s Largest Collection Of Non-Releasable Bald Eagles
If you’ve ever been to Dollywood, the amusement park established by country icon Dolly Parton in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, then you probably remember the bald eagles.
One of the attractions of the park is Eagle Mountain Sanctuary, which holds the largest collection of non-releasable bald eagles in the United States.
These birds, which are the national bird of the United States, are admired by visitors while living in a large enclosure, of approximately 400,000 cubic feet, that allows for them to move about with relative freedom.
However, over the weekend of April 18 and April 19, severe thunderstorms led to a tree falling which damaged their enclosure, leading to three of the eagles escaping.
According to the American Eagle Foundation, “The Bald Eagles residing within Eagle Mountain Sanctuary are all permanently disabled and would not be able to survive in the wild.”
Dollywood informed 6 News that it relocated the remaining eagles to the American Eagle Foundation, which is headquartered in Kodak, Tennessee, and will keep them there until the enclosure is repaired.
After two weeks, on May 2, the American Eagle Foundation stated that one of the three eagles was found and returned.
This eagle, named Caesar, was safely recovered after weeks of the community in the vicinity of Dollywood calling in tips, with the American Eagle Foundation writing, “Because of your calls, messages, and watchful eyes, we were able to locate him. This is what a community of friends looks like!!”
Still, two other eagles remain missing…
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American Eagle Foundation Needs Your Help Finding Missing Eagles
As of May 4, two of the three missing bald eagles have yet to be found, so the American Eagle Foundation is still urging the public to be alert and notify them if one of the three eagles is spotted.
The missing eagles — named Rockland and Wesley — both have injured wings, which could result in them flying unevenly.
The American Eagle Foundation advises residents and visitors of the Pigeon Forge and Great Smoky Mountains area that if they see one of the eagles they should:
- Keep your distance: Do not approach, feed, or attempt to capture the bird;
- Look for identification bands: Rockland wears a black band on his leg, Caesar wears an orange band marked “SE” on the left leg, and Wesley wears a black band on her leg;
- Document safely: If possible, take a photo or video from a distance to help us confirm his identity.
The American Eagle Foundation has also provided contact information, which can be accessed on their Facebook posts for each of the birds, as found below.
Learn more about Rockland, here:
Learn more about Wesley, here:
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