There are few creatures as majestic as the bald eagle. They’re strong, beautiful birds, and a symbol of America.
They’re also a rare sight: they’re a protected species that up until about a decade ago were considered endangered.
So it’s heartbreaking to see one in the wild injured or suffering… but luckily, one poor eagle got a second chance thanks to a team of rescuers and one smart dog.
The story was shared by Wildwoods, a wildlife rehabilitation center in Duluth, Minnesota. In 2016, employees Kerrie and Pam were walking Kerrie’s dog Kenai near Lake Superior, when Kenai started acting strange.
He started barking at something down by the water. Kerrie and Pam went down to investigate.
They discovered what the dog was alerting them to: an injured bald eagle was sitting in the snow near the water.
They knew they had to help, but were afraid of scaring the eagle off. Losing daylight, they decided to return the next day to save him.
The bald eagle wasn’t in the same spot he was before, but they were able to use his talon prints in the snow to track him down.
They followed the prints further down the shore, and found the eagle. They contacted the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, who worked with them to safely catch the bird for rescue.
“It took a little doing, but they were finally able to catch him,” Wildwoods wrote. “He was chilled and his feathers were frozen.”
He also had a shoulder injury and likely was suffering from lead poisoning. The bald eagle was taken to Wildwoods, where his feathers were thawed out and he was treated with fluids and medication.
After taking care of the eagle, Wildwoods transferred him to The Raptor Center in St. Paul, who were optimistic about being able to rehabilitate the bird.
It was a life saved, all thanks to these rescuers being at the right place at the right time.
“Thanks so much to Kerrie, Pam, Kenai, and the two women from the DNR for giving this eagle a second chance!” Wildwoods wrote.
Special thanks went to the dog whose great instincts made it happen in the first place.
“Kerrie and Pam especially credit Kenai and her sharp eyes for spotting this bird so that he could be rescued! Good dog, Kenai!”
We’re so glad this eagle was found and taken care of in time! Hopefully he was able to get back out into nature, majestically soaring above our country just like he was meant to.
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