The United States adopted the bald eagle as its national bird in 1782. Perplexed rescuers discovered an injured bald eagle and set about figuring out why it couldn’t fly. It turns out he was just too American — the bald eagle overate roadkill raccoon and was too fat to fly.
The once thriving species embodies the “American Dream.” The birds are unique to North America, majestic, and free-flying. Many factors almost decimated the bald eagle population. DDT is thought to be a large factor in the declining numbers. Although DDT was banned in 1972, the bird populations are recovering, but it is a slow process.
The Endangered Species Act in 1973 declared the bald eagle an endangered species. Programs work to reintroduce fostered chicks and fledglings. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service changed the classification to threatened in 1995. Bald eagles came off the Endangered Species List in 2007. There is still federal protection from the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 and the Golden Eagle Protection Act of 1940.
Let’s return to our rescued bald eagle, which was too fat to fly. The Missouri Department of Conservation picked up the bird and evaluated it. After X-rays and a physical examination, rescuers found the bird healthy. The X-rays revealed what appeared to be remnants of raccoon roadkill.
After digestion and rest, the bald eagle was no longer too fat to fly. Rescuers returned the bird to its original capture location near Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield. They hope the eagle will reintegrate into the local ecosystem and thrive.
Bald eagle rescue programs are nationwide, helping these amazing birds regain their population numbers. We will continue to admire their majestic beauty.
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