Current:Home > NewsOfficials thought this bald eagle was injured. It was actually just 'too fat to fly'. -EliteFunds
Officials thought this bald eagle was injured. It was actually just 'too fat to fly'.
View
Date:2025-04-14 13:17:33
A bald eagle in Missouri that was believed to be injured actually had a peculiar reason for why it was unable to fly: it was too fat.
Officials with the Missouri Department of Conservation captured the bird along the boundary of the Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield and temporarily took it into captivity, park officials said in an Aug. 21 Facebook post.
However, an X-ray taken at the Dickerson Park Zoo, showed that instead of an injury, the bird was suffering from its own success − it had been eating a little too well.
“The bird, originally reported to be injured, was found to be healthy but engorged with (raccoon) — in other words, too fat to fly,” the park said.
Officials suspect the raccoon was roadkill, according to the post. X-rays from the Facebook post show what appears to be a raccoon paw inside the eagle's stomach.
The eagle has since been released back into the wild near where it was originally found and in compliance with state and federal laws.
Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at fernando.cervantes@gannett.com and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.
veryGood! (1)
Related
- Will the 'Yellowstone' finale be the last episode? What we know about Season 6, spinoffs
- Two fired utility execs and a former top Ohio regulator plead not guilty in bribery scheme
- TikToker Campbell “Pookie” Puckett Steps Out For NYFW in Her Husband’s Favorite Outfit Yet
- Are Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell Returning for an Anyone But You Sequel? She Says…
- EU countries double down on a halt to Syrian asylum claims but will not yet send people back
- Flight attendants are holding airport rallies to protest the lack of new contracts and pay raises
- One dead, five injured in shooting at a New York City subway station. Shooter is at large
- 'I Love You So Much It's Killing Us Both' is a rare, genuinely successful rock novel
- Elon Musk's skyrocketing net worth: He's the first person with over $400 billion
- Andy Reid is due for a serious pay bump after Chiefs' Super Bowl win
Ranking
- EU countries double down on a halt to Syrian asylum claims but will not yet send people back
- In $100 Million Colorado River Deal, Water and Power Collide
- Maine mass shooting commission gets subpoena power
- Race to succeed George Santos in Congress reaches stormy climax in New York’s suburbs
- Federal Spending Freeze Could Have Widespread Impact on Environment, Emergency Management
- 'The Dynasty' Apple TV docuseries goes behind scenes of New England Patriots' six Super Bowls
- Powerball winning numbers for February 12 drawing; Jackpot climbs to $285 million
- Powerball winning numbers for February 12 drawing; Jackpot climbs to $285 million
Recommendation
Why we love Bear Pond Books, a ski town bookstore with a French bulldog 'Staff Pup'
Fidelity Charitable distributes record-setting $11.8 billion to nonprofits in 2023
Chicago to stop using controversial gunshot detection technology this year
An Oregon resident was diagnosed with the plague. Here are a few things to know about the illness
'As foretold in the prophecy': Elon Musk and internet react as Tesla stock hits $420 all
Mardi Gras beads in New Orleans are creating an environmental concern
An Oregon resident was diagnosed with the plague. Here are a few things to know about the illness
How Hollywood art directors are working to keep their sets out of the landfill