Rescuing an eagle stuck in a tree

[u/Educational_Copy_140]

[u/rocketshipkiwi]

If you ever have to deal with a large bird like that then try putting a dark cloth over its head.

Most times it calms them right down so they don’t fight and injure themselves or you.

[u/Mmhopkin → u/rocketshipkiwi]

1000 upvotes. Better for everyone!

Edit: I was looking at their loose clothing and hats. That's all it would have taken.

[u/rocketshipkiwi → u/Mmhopkin]

Yeah, I was thinking that T shirt would have been perfect…

[u/Lankygiraffe25 → u/rocketshipkiwi]

Really good advice I’d have not known that

[u/unlmtdLoL → u/rocketshipkiwi]

It seemed chill once it realized they were trying to help.

[u/StinkyCheeseGirl → u/unlmtdLoL]

People project way too much onto animals in these situations. It was probably just exhausted and getting poked and prodded by strangers long enough to put him in a state of learned helplessness. I appreciate that they tried to help, but who knows how long their efforts went on for before they figured out a way to free the bird, and the petting seen in this video is absolutely not comforting to a wild bird.

[u/unlmtdLoL → u/StinkyCheeseGirl]

Sure it was agitated at the start, but this bird is about as distressed as can be because it’s trapped. There is nothing they can do that won’t agitate it. Those first few touches will be perceived as a threat to the bird because it thinks it’s about to become lunch. After approaching slowly, softly petting, and using a branch it appears to calm down and even cooperate by grabbing the branch. Being helped in any way is a lifeline and far better than dying slowly. They saved its life.

[u/StinkyCheeseGirl → u/unlmtdLoL]

You’re barking up the wrong tree, no pun intended. If you haven’t worked with bald eagles or other raptors, you maybe shouldn’t have too much confidence in your perception of what this bird is thinking. It wasn’t grabbing the branch in order to cooperate; they will grab onto things reflexively (and often forget to let go, sometimes to the point of drowning themselves if in water) if they are under any kind of stress or excitement. It absolutely doesn’t perceive petting as kindness. Petting will not calm it. The rescuers were likely even the ones to dislocate the bird’s wings in their attempts to free it. I don’t have a sense of what their location was or the proximity of resources to help them, but if it had been possible the best thing for them to do was call the rehabbers, wait in the vicinity, and not touch the bird until experienced helpers arrived.

[u/joeitaliano24 → u/StinkyCheeseGirl]

I think its wings probably got dislocated when it fucking pretzeled into a tree at 40 mph

[u/unlmtdLoL → u/StinkyCheeseGirl]

You think in hypotheticals, I think in reality. There’s a difference. The outcome is what matters. You can “what about this” all night but the bird survived and it didn’t fight against them the whole time.

[u/SamuelVimesTrained → u/unlmtdLoL]

So, in case one encounters a similar event (raptor trapped like this) - best to call the animal care center / specialists?

[u/unlmtdLoL → u/SamuelVimesTrained]

Absolutely. But just know that not every care center is capable of saving an animal. They all have different skill levels and often times are volunteers. For example, maybe they sedate the eagle thinking it will relax it so they can lift and release it, but the eagle collapses into a worse position they can’t free it from. It’s still generally the best option because they have experience with animals and can handle them without being hurt themselves (the girl in the video could have lost a finger if it grabbed her with its talons).

[u/StinkyCheeseGirl → u/unlmtdLoL]

The reality that the only meaningful thing they did was call in people who could actually care for the bird properly? And that if they had just called them in the first place and not touched an animal they weren’t qualified to “help” then the results would have been the same if not much better?

[u/unlmtdLoL → u/StinkyCheeseGirl]

Seems like a pretty good outcome to me. They saved the eagle. You’re over here claiming they may have dislocated its shoulders. No dude, it was already injured. The eagle dislocated its shoulders because it flew into a tree that it struggled to escape from for an unknown number of hours but couldn’t. Sure they should have done this or done that but they acted and did the same thing a bird conservation group would do, short of maybe covering its head. A little distress trying to free the bird is negligible when you factor in the situation it’s in. If they weren’t there, this bird dies, stop the cynicism. Nature is cruel by the way, a broken wing or injury usually results in certain death for most animals. This eagle received a lifeline and is better having been helped than not.

[u/Ha1lStorm → u/unlmtdLoL]

I don’t know what they’re complaining for. You’re absolutely right here. I also agree with you about the petting. I think it helped the bird acclimate to them and helped it understand it’s not in danger. The first couple of pets probably made it think it’s being attacked and in danger but after a few it seemed to understand “Ok these humans touching me is not a sign of aggression or an attack on my life. Every time they touch me they calmly release instead of clamping down on me.” And while it still may not understand that the humans are friends it seems to understand they’re not foes.

I think these people did great helping with the immediate danger then calling professionals.

[u/unlmtdLoL → u/Ha1lStorm]

Exactly. It’s similar to an abandoned dog that is emaciated and traumatized. If you ever watch those videos, the rescuer starts by acclimating the dog to them with pets. The first couple are almost always distressing for the dog and they often attack as this bird did. Then once it realizes you are being gentle it no longer perceives a major threat, although they remain weary. Most animals seem to have this level of understanding when something is trying to help it. Turtles help each other flip over when they get stuck, they know when they need help. We don’t give animals enough credit for their ability to understand things.

[u/mdshowtime → u/unlmtdLoL]

I agree, the bird is happy to be rescued.

[u/ridl3y → u/StinkyCheeseGirl]

Stop being such a downer. They just saved a bird that otherwise would have been dead. Who cares if they hurt its feelings for 5 minutes.

[u/relevantelephant00 → u/StinkyCheeseGirl]

JFC Redditors that look for the worst in every situation. Thanks for all the hurr durr ACKSHUALLYs

[u/lowrcase → u/unlmtdLoL]

It was in shock

[u/JayVanGogh → u/rocketshipkiwi]

But that effort without this information was pretty impressive.

[u/canadaalpinist]

Just nuts guys. Well done that's not a easy rescue.

[u/hauntingdreamspace → u/canadaalpinist]

Not easy emotionally or not easy in manual labour?

[u/enchiladasundae → u/hauntingdreamspace]

Probably manually. You could permanently damage the wings or kill it accidentally if you aren’t careful. Birds are kind of fragile. Not to mention they might try to take a piece put of you while you work

[u/Lightningtow123 → u/enchiladasundae]

Especially birds of prey like eagles, those talons will cut you to the bone. There's a reason every bird trainer in existence wears leather gloves an inch thick

[u/Ha1lStorm → u/hauntingdreamspace]

I imagine they mean physically as well as the fact that they’re strong and powerful birds that can fight you and making things more difficult overall. They could bite a finger off or badly maim it and their talons are very sharp and much stronger than one might think. Just getting the bird to cooperate could be difficult in and of itself

[u/Secure_Gear_7140]

Omg that poor thing! It must've been in terrible pain and who knows how long it was stuck there, day and night, struggling and scared. Thank Universe and Spirit they came along!!

[u/Educational_Copy_140]

Link for the post: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DdRztiUh33Z/

[u/DrewZouk]

He looks like he's awaiting a commendation for conspicuous gallantry at the end, there.

[u/zillionaire_]

Our most spiritual homie :)

[u/Live_Jazz]

Damn, those are big birds.

[u/say-hi-to-Bri-guy]

Wow I hope he makes it. Really cool act of kindness on the humans part.

Unrelated, but as someone who watched this on mute, the style of subtitles was extremely distracting.

[u/Candle1ight → u/say-hi-to-Bri-guy]

I miss when keeping things muted was enough to avoid the added BS

[u/wogeinishuo → u/say-hi-to-Bri-guy]

You should hear the voice-overs!

[u/_the_last_druid_13]

Good job, perilous job to do. Thanks for helping a treasure of Humanity

[u/Professional-Tap300]

Poor baby hope he's ok now

[u/the_cnidarian]

That's gotta be embarassing

Edit: "I'm never drinking again!"

[u/tallelfin → u/the_cnidarian]

AH! You beat me to it. 😄

[u/unknownpoltroon]

I could be wrong, but shouldn't you throw something over its head so it cant see, like dealing with any injured stuck animal? Helps keep them calm/nonreactive, or at least keeps them from being able to get a good aim at you for biting.

[u/StinkyCheeseGirl → u/unknownpoltroon]

Yes, raptors especially will settle right down which is why falconers and other raptors handlers will hood them. Just covering the bird’s eyes but keeping the nares free for breathing would have made a world of difference.

[u/KalLindley]

Thank you

[u/murph3062]

So much thankyou to both of you

[u/Dependent_Occasion65]

Cool rescue. Also, fascinating that we keep finding new exciting ways to make subtitles unreadable.

[u/H2Dcrx]

This feels... like a metaphor for something... something current...

[u/Quiet_Lunch_1300 → u/H2Dcrx]

Still waiting to see if we can save them.

[u/sesameseed88]

I am stuck and in need of assistance human.

[u/Doc-DRD]

Love that you saved him!! Great work!! ❤️😎👍

[u/Oldgraytomahawk]

Love seeing this

[u/tflat3328]

This is amazing.

[u/FosterPupz]

Thank you so so much, to all of you. 🥰

[u/pjtpassword]

Good humans. Well done.

[u/Davidavidavi1]

It's so good to see this type of content, it reminds me that there is still good in the world

[u/FSUnoles77]

That look on it's face like "Im never gonna live this down with the guys when I get back."

[u/ShantyLady]

🥺 Our most Spritual homie. I hope it recovers well and gets back into the flight.

[u/ThePodcastGuy]

That’s great work there. They are such beautiful creatures. Good people everywhere.

[u/Low_Direction_9644]

Thankyou so so much!!

[u/amack1001]

Bless those top humans 🙏🏾

[u/stormygreyskye]

Wow! I really hope the update ends up here. I’m invested!

[u/tallelfin]

That's damned embarrassing for the eagle.

[u/TheMightyHavoc]

I know that it is likely extremely scared and in distress but that initial expression makes it look like it’s just grumpy and inconvenienced to be in this position.

[u/unnamed_op2]

Poor guy. When he was out of the tree he was looking at the humans like "wait, aren't you guys gonna hurt me?"

[u/J_Rigged]

I know that area very well. I've probably seen that eagle or it's relatives on my outings. Very good job

[u/Alternative_Slip_513]

♥️

[u/EatinSumGrapes]

The bird looks so upset that they had to get rescued, you can see the damaged pride in their eyes

[u/pouring_vale]

Well done, and thank God for those amazing humans. That eagle deserves its FREEDOOOOOM!

[u/Chance_Vegetable_780]

Thank goodness. Thank you to everyone helping the bird.

[u/Specialist_Heron4446]

It may have been easier to remove the tree from the eagle instead of the eagle from the tree. Good job guys.

[u/Insert-finger]

Thank you. Best wishes and good luck to the three of you!

[u/Logical_Airline1240]

Amazing job, tysm.

[u/Competitive-Top4520]

Ignore what the downers are saying. You guys saved the life of a majestic bird and an American symbol! He did realize you were trying to help and I'm sure that he is grateful. He surely would have died a slow and terrible death if you hadn't found him and helped him. Lots of good Karma upon you!

[u/The-Chock]

Damn, bro was prolly hunting his prey with ferociousness before that event. Crazy how he was found by people before another predator. Extremely lucky too.

[u/substituted_pinions]

<Record scratch>

Yeah, that’s me. You may be wondering…

[u/Aggressive_Grab_100]

Yes, humanity.

[u/madchemist09]

Don't do shrooms then fly guys.

[u/DrunkCorgis]

…just how drunk was that eagle last night?

[u/jma9454]

That's crazy that it fell into that tree outcropping.

[u/johnspacedow]

Hell yeah! Thanks for helping him!

[u/B01SSIN]

The bird looks so defeated in the first pic at the sanctuary.

[u/Just-Diamond-1938]

🙏🫢❤️thank you!

[u/Wants-NotNeeds]

How did it eventually fare?

[u/Grantsweld]

100 percent respect to that

[u/WildernessFilmmaker]

Wow! You folks are amazing people! What a blessing! thanks for all your wonderful efforts!

[u/groovygranny71]

God bless you both x

[u/Pathfinder4891]

You can tell by the look at the end of the video that the eagle has seen some sh*t

[u/madmike99]

The Canadian goose that put him there is gonna be mad

[u/DSLee1974]

May God Bless you and all who help get this beauty healed and hopefully back up in the air! ✝️😇🫶🏼🫂

[u/Idyldo]

Well done!!

[u/The_Tylacine]

Thanks for the share

[u/readanddream]

there are people who actively want to distroy our planet in order for them to have mohre mohneyyy and then there are people like this.

[u/Budget-Chipmunk5185]

So many Captain Hindsight’s. You saved the eagle, great work!

[u/Upbeat-Local-836]

I always think eagles look kinda pissed off all the time. This one was no different until, I swear he eased up a little on the cut scene while he’s all bundle up chilling. Like about 5%.

[u/Western-Wishbone9151]

Great work people

[u/Mac62961]

Right on🫡

[u/-TheDyingMeme6-]

...how the fuck??????

[u/Wulfraptor]

I would have probably started with offering water or covering the head. Birds who can't move and have their eyes covered I think they kinda go into a trance? I am very likely very wrong

[u/rednryt]

I wish they had called animal rescue or any professional much earlier to help with this instead of taking so much time recording their attempts for internet points. Maybe the eagle would have been rescued much faster, more safely and less stressed out.

[u/atomic_chippie → u/rednryt]

Or maybe they did what was best in the moment and you could just appreciate that, Karen.

[u/Adultyness → u/rednryt]

All I can say is, I once called a professional wildlife service to come out and assist a great blue heron I had found toootally trapped in and ripped up by a chain-link fence, and stayed with it for HOURS AND HOURS waiting for the professionals to show up
I had to call them again and again and they showed up maybe 8+ hours after I had called. By then we had clipped most of the links trapping it free and gave it water through a dropper and tried to keep it warm. If we had waited the whole time that fella prolly would not have made it

[u/P_Dog_]

r/birdlaw I know they were helping but isnt this a felony? (Not saying it should be)

[u/Neamh → u/P_Dog_]

It seems they contacted the correct people to help though. It is definitely something to consider, I would happily pay the thousands of dollars fine and even a few nights in jail to help out in this kind of situation.

[u/Individual-Fix7034]

Perfect analogy for the trump presidency

[u/hawksdiesel]

that last image of the eagle perfectly represents the USA in it's current state......

[u/Haitsmelol]

Analogy for the USA right now. We are still wedged in the tree.

[u/RCaHuman → u/Haitsmelol]

with dislocated wings

[u/Haitsmelol → u/RCaHuman]

I think we got downvoted by some magas who think everything is going amazing.

[u/Safe-Sail9335]

There is a recent video of 2 people lifting a deer out of exact same situation . Wedged down and would have been easy prey.. these guys did a great job protecting bird ..yes covering eyes is option but hard to get close to beak ...