I helped rescue a bald eagle today.
This summer, I’m working as the entrance booth attendant at Big Arm – actually called Flathead Lake State Park Big Arm Unit (which sounds slightly . . . . strange when I say it on the phone).
Today, the Game Warden (Chris) came by and mentioned that he was going to Wild Horse Island. I asked if I could come along and he welcomed me aboard the boat he was taking there. He mentioned that he had gotten a call about a golden eagle flopping around injured on the island about “600 paces” from the sign at the main bay on the island and there was an arrow that had been scratched in the soil.
When we got there, we walked for a while, looking for an arrow and we finally found it. Chris looked up the hill and noticed the bird sitting patiently on a log. We discussed that maybe it was just a young bird and waiting to try to fly again and we should just leave it alone.
Until it tried to move. The bird flopped around off the log he was on and it was obvious there was something not right. Chris called the bird lady and she agreed to bring her two older kids to help rescue the bird. After an hour or so, she finally arrived and she and her kids were finally able to rescue the bird after he flopped in fright right into the lake. On its way down the hill to the lake, it got within 6 feet of where I was standing.
She carried the bird back to the boat and the very large kennel and got it into the carrier. On the walk back (I helped carry the kennel to Chris’s boat from her boat) she told me the bird’s wing was broken and must have been an accident. Chris was going to take the bird back because the carrier was too large for her boat, so we all loaded the carrier onto the boat.
Being that close to that incredible bird was truly aweinspiring.
To give the details – this was a juvenile bald eagle with a broken wing and possible other damage. No foul play, but it is still horrible that this young bird is injured. Chris said he would let me know what the vet said.
I know this has nothing to do with the DNC (which I didn’t want to miss), but it was a sadness to see this young bird. I’ve seen a lot of eagle cams and until you see them close up, you can’t imagine their beauty and power.
Sorry I don’t have any pictures. I wasn’t planning on doing anything but sitting in the back of the boat.