JD D05
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Apr 1, 2013
- Messages
- 8,798
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Yesterday myself and two buddies were snowmobiling in the back country. I was separated from my friends and happen to notice a dark flash as I was riding. I knew it was a wing and instantly thought it was a condor or something eating on a small animal. I circled around and realized it was a mature Bald Eagle with a broken wing. My friends come over to me and we started to discuss it etc, what should we do what can we do. As we are discussing it I tried to call DNR on my sat phone, sat phone is dead. So can we help it? Can we catch and even of we do how do we get it off the mountain and is this Eagle going to kick someone ass. Lastly if we can help are we legally in major shit.
I decide to walk over to it, I get within 10 feet and it takes off through the snow as best it can. My mind was set on saving it but also brief thoughts of putting it out of its pain thinking it won't survive many nights like this etc. My buddy says I wish we had a blanket or something, I remembered I had a extra large jacket in my tunnel bag. So we ride down 30 yards to where it stopped under some trees. Without even really thinking I grab my jacket and start to walk towards it. Talking to it, I know it sounds silly moving slow and a little concerned how this was going to go. I get close enough to touch it and start to lift the jacket over the top of it. It let me do it probably due to being exhausted. I lifted it up, it fought some as I carried it to my sled. My buddy started to quickly empty all the gear out of the bag and we got the bird placed in there.
So I take off down the mountain with the Eagle. I was stressed out and wanted to get it out of the bag as soon as possible, we had gently secured her with bungee cord. The tunnel on our sleds also get's pretty warm especially on the trail due to the cooling channels that run through the tunnel. Stop where I have cell service and call the DNR. Tell them I found a wounded Bald Eagle and he starts asking questions etc. I ask the officer if I help the bird will I be in legal trouble? He says no absolutely not. So I say good because I have him with me on my snowmobile lol.
So we get back to the trailer, get her out of the bag. Got in touch with a rehabilitation place and got her dropped off to get fixed up and healthy!
I decide to walk over to it, I get within 10 feet and it takes off through the snow as best it can. My mind was set on saving it but also brief thoughts of putting it out of its pain thinking it won't survive many nights like this etc. My buddy says I wish we had a blanket or something, I remembered I had a extra large jacket in my tunnel bag. So we ride down 30 yards to where it stopped under some trees. Without even really thinking I grab my jacket and start to walk towards it. Talking to it, I know it sounds silly moving slow and a little concerned how this was going to go. I get close enough to touch it and start to lift the jacket over the top of it. It let me do it probably due to being exhausted. I lifted it up, it fought some as I carried it to my sled. My buddy started to quickly empty all the gear out of the bag and we got the bird placed in there.
So I take off down the mountain with the Eagle. I was stressed out and wanted to get it out of the bag as soon as possible, we had gently secured her with bungee cord. The tunnel on our sleds also get's pretty warm especially on the trail due to the cooling channels that run through the tunnel. Stop where I have cell service and call the DNR. Tell them I found a wounded Bald Eagle and he starts asking questions etc. I ask the officer if I help the bird will I be in legal trouble? He says no absolutely not. So I say good because I have him with me on my snowmobile lol.
So we get back to the trailer, get her out of the bag. Got in touch with a rehabilitation place and got her dropped off to get fixed up and healthy!
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good karma there.!
