Air Force’s live mascot Aurora, a 22-year-old white gyrfalcon, suffered potentially life-threatening injuries because of a West Point prank gone awry.
Aurora was taken from an Army colonel’s home as part of an Air Force/Army week prank by West Point cadets, according to an Air Force representative.
While being kept by the Army cadets, both of the bird’s wings were injured.
Given its advanced age, there were concerns yesterday that bird might need to be euthanized, but it has recovered throughout the day leaving officials hopeful she will recover.
“Aurora returned home last night and as of this morning was able to fly around her pen. She will see a specialist later today who will determine if X-rays are necessary, but this is an extremely good sign. We will continue to evaluate her and administer antibiotics to prevent an infection. We are grateful for the outpouring of support and optimistic for Aurora’s recovery,” said Lt. Col. Tracy Bunko in a statement Sunday afternoon.
Air Force generally brings two mascots to games, but only had one on Saturday as Army defeated the Falcons 17-14 at Michie Stadium.
Aurora is the grand dame of the school’s falconry program, which includes a half-dozen birds managed by a dozen cadets.
For more than two decades, she had traveled with cadets, posing for crowds. Aurora’s well-known temper and flighty nature meant that she was seldom used as a flying mascot, but she was docile enough with a handler to give thousands of people their first up-close glance of a live falcon.
Aurora is the grand dame of the Air Force’s falconry program.
West Point issued an apology Sunday for the “incident” that injured Aurora, and said that an investigation is underway.
“We are taking this situation very seriously, and this occurrence does not reflect the Army or USMA core values of dignity and respect,” the apology read.
Aurora was being kept ahead of the game in the home of a volunteer sponsor, an Army colonel, as is customary whenever the Air Force team is on the road.
No details about when the mascot was abducted, by whom and how she was injured have been released by either academy.
However, Aurora’s injuries have risen to the highest level at the military schools.
AFA spokeswoman Lt. Col. Tracy Bunko said AFA Superintendent Lt. Gen. Jay Silveria has been in contact with his counterpart at West Point, Lt. Gen. Darryl Williams.
Animal abuse, specifically to an animal on the government’s payroll, is a crime in the military. The crime of “abuse of a public animal” has been on the military’s books since the Army was founded, and has been used primarily to charge those who abused pack animals, such as mules and horses.
Gyrfalcons are the largest falcons in the world and can live up to 25 years in captivity.