“Oh my God. Look at this.”
A Stunning Sight
In British Columbia, spotting a majestic bald eagle soaring through the sky isn’t unusual. But when Graham Adderley saw one plummet to the ground like a stone in February, he knew something was wrong.
“Oh my God. Look at this. Look at this eagle!” Adderley said in a video. “I’ve never seen an eagle so stunned.”
It appeared the eagle had been chasing a pigeon or fleeing from crows when he hit a power line and crashed. Fearing an electric shock, Adderley and other witnesses called for help.
A Delicate Rescue
Struggling to move, the eagle rolled over, tested his wings, but couldn’t fly. He stumbled into the street, ending up under a car before a volunteer from the Orphaned Wildlife Rehabilitation Society (OWL) arrived.
Using a net, the rescuer carefully scooped up the injured raptor, taking him to OWL for urgent care.
Healing and Recovery
At OWL, rehabbers noticed his left wing drooping at an odd angle. They weren’t sure if he was just stunned from the fall or if he had actually suffered an electric shock.
Electrical injuries can take days to show, so the team sniffed his feathers for a burnt smell but found none.
While waiting for signs of further injury, an X-ray revealed a shoulder injury—serious, but not life-threatening.
After three weeks in intensive care, the eagle showed great progress. He kept a strong appetite, remained calm during treatments, and soon, his bandages came off.
Back to the Skies
Now, the eagle is slowly testing his wing strength, following a gentle rehabilitation plan to avoid further strain.
“If everything goes well, he’ll be released in two to three months,” said Rob Hope, OWL’s general manager.
Thanks to caring bystanders and expert wildlife rehabilitators, this majestic eagle is expected to soar again soon—stronger than ever.