Golden Eagle

 The first phone call came this afternoon, saying there was an eagle on the side of the road, and it wasn't flying.  The first thing Bruce always asks, in scenarios like this, is whether or not there's a dead animal near by.  Eagles have the tendency to gorge themselves to the point where they are too full to fly. They need to sit awhile, and digest their food before flying off.  The man said, yes... the eagle was sitting on a road kill.  Bruce told him to leave it alone.

The second phone call came about 45 min. later. There was an eagle sitting on top of a road kill that refused to fly. The man picked it up, put it in a box, and had it at his house. What should he do with it?  *sighs*  Bruce urged the people to call the Game Warden who WAS working this weekend.

The third phone call came 20 min. later from the Sheriff's Office. Someone had just dropped off an eagle in a cardboard box... and would Bruce come pick it up.  So, he did.  A magnificent Golden Eagle... but much to our dismay, he was not using his legs at all.

 

He was probably enjoying his afternoon meal when a car drove by... spooked off the roadkill, he most likely took to the air, directly in the path of the car. We think he was hit, and has a broken back.  Our plan is for Bruce to take him to the Rehabilitator in Kalispell on Monday- however, Bruce just came up and told me he doubts he'll survive the night. He's not looking good at all.

Mother Nature is indiscriminate, and harsh. I understand this is the way of things... but that doesn't mean I am unaffected by it.  And so, I am sad for this amazing bird to lose his life... and yet so grateful for the experience of caring for him.  At the very least, keeping him safe when he's vulnerable, and appreciating him for himself. He deserves that much.