Most of the time the rescue stories we see online feature cats or dogs, and it’s rare to hear about other animals being saved – like bald eagles, for example.
I’ve always seen these majestic birds as self-sufficient, rarely needing human help. But a recent video completely changed my perspective.
A group of friends was rafting when they spotted six bald eagles. As the tidal bore rolled in, five flew away, but one remained, struggling to leave.
Emmett Blois, who was on the raft, recounted the event, saying:
“The water comes in and it hit her. She was trying to jump up a little bit. It looked like her feet were almost stuck in the sand. And then all of a sudden the tidal bore actually knocked her in the water, and we were like, ‘Okay, this is definitely not normal.’”
Emmett and his friends waited for the water to subside before they tried to corral the eagle and pull her to safety.
They were nervous about handling her large talons, but their determination to rescue the distressed bird overcame their fear.
They recognized the urgency since eagles are not aquatic creatures; nothing could deter them from their goal to rescue the poor bird.
Reflecting on the rescue, Emmett said how he knew exactly what to do – all thanks to the bald eagle they were saving!
“We couldn’t communicate, but she definitely let me know what she liked and what she didn’t like.”
After they managed to get her onto the boat, Emmett noticed how stressed she was.
“When I got on the boat, I had my hand on her chest and her heart was just pounding. She did bite me when she got in the boat pretty good. Powerful, powerful jaws.”
Emmett understood that the bite was an act of self-defense and didn’t hold it against her. He comforted her, holding her gently for about an hour until her heartbeat calmed.
“She was actually surprisingly calm. As long as I didn’t make any sudden movements. I was going through trying to call places to come help, and she’s just chillin’. She was fine.”
Emmett admitted he was fascinated with the bald eagle nestled in his arms, saying how he spent a good part of their trip just staring at her eyes.
For him, rescuing that eagle was undoubtedly the most rewarding experience in his life.
“The rescue was such a good feeling. When you get up close and personal to an eagle like this… I’m very thankful I got to experience this once-in-a-lifetime eagle rescue. To be able to give back and help out, it comes around full circle.”
Once they reached the shore, they rushed the eagle to the Hope For Wildlife Rescue where she was thoroughly examined.
X-rays revealed ligament damage, and the vet prescribed plenty of rest for the brave bird.
As soon as she was strong enough to take off, Emmett released her back into the wild.
“We wanted to see her back out in the river again, doing really well. When we released her, we were just happy because we’ll know that she’ll be out there.”
While Emmett found it hard to articulate the full impact of the experience, it’s undeniable that those hours were among the most meaningful of his life.
He’s beyond grateful he got to experience it all – and I’m sure we’re all grateful he shared the experience with all of us.
For more amazing and inspiring rescue stories, I encourage you to check out our web page!