“Her heart was just pounding.”
Near a rushing river in Nova Scotia, Canada, a group of eagles took flight, soaring high into the sky. But one eagle, perhaps feeling fatigued or simply waiting a little longer, didn’t join her companions. Out of nowhere, a wave struck the eagle, and the rising tide swept her into the dangerous brown waters.
Fortunately, a group of local river rafters witnessed the event and sprang into action. Driven by compassion, they quickly paddled over in their boat, ready to help.
The rafters were deeply concerned as they saw the eagle struggling in the water, her energy waning with each passing second. They managed to surround her and pull her safely into their boat.
“I had my hand on her chest,” recalled river guide Emmett Blois in a video. “Her heart was just pounding.”
Blois cradled the eagle carefully, holding her close as they made their way back to shore. As time passed, he noticed her heart rate gradually slow down.
“I spent about an hour with her,” Blois shared. “She was surprisingly calm, considering the situation.”
Blois was struck by the eagle’s strength—her sharp talons, powerful beak, and piercing eyes. “The most beautiful eyes you’ve ever seen,” he remarked, adding that he spent much of the trip home simply gazing into them.
The team took the eagle to Hope for Wildlife, a wildlife rehabilitation organization, where experts x-rayed her and discovered ligament damage. They created a safe space for her to rest and recover, providing her with ample food to regain strength.
“She wasted no time devouring the fish,” Blois noted.
Once the eagle regained her strength, it was time for her to return to the sky. Blois eagerly awaited her release, grateful for the chance to have met her and even more grateful to see her return to her natural habitat.
“When we release her, we’ll be happy,” Blois said. “We’ll know she’s back where she belongs.”