MASON COUNTY, Mich. – A bald eagle that was hit by a car is expected to recover thanks to the efforts of two Mason County sheriff’s deputies and a conservation officer.
Video of the rescue captured a deputy approaching the bird as it sat on the side of the road and wrapping it in a blanket. A conservation officer with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources then took the young eagle to ARK, a wildlife rehabilitation center, to be treated.
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Authorities said the bald eagle didn’t appear to have any broken bones, but potentially an injured shoulder. Once AKR finishes its assessment, the young bird is expected to be released back into the wild.
Dashcam footage of the rescue can be watched in the video player below.
Bald eagles can be found in all 83 counties in Michigan. After nearly going extinct in the 1970s, the iconic bird of prey’s numbers recovered due to the banning of DDT and various conservation programs -- including the federal Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. Michigan is believed to be home to about 1,000 breeding pairs, a huge recovery from the 52 that called Michigan home in 1961.
More on Michigan’s wildlife, including bats, beavers, deer and more, can be found on the Department of Natural Resources website.
