Alaska dentist fixes injured eagle's broken beak

[February 08, 2010]  ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) -- An Alaska dentist has given a bald eagle a unique beak -- using a temporary crown, sticky poster putty and yellow highlighter.

The bird was found in December with severe damage to its beak, apparently from fishing line that wrapped around it and started cutting into it.

Cindy Palmatier at the Bird Treatment and Learning Center says staff there decided to turn to dentist Kirk Johnson, who thought of patching up the beak with the same material used to make temporary crowns for people.

The "crown" is being held on with poster putty, and Johnson colored it in using highlighter to give it a yellow tint.

The bird center says the eagle is doing just fine but won't be able to return to the wild.

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Information from: KTUU-TV, http://www.ktuu.com/

[Associated Press]

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