While kayaking along the peaceful South River in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, a man noticed something unusual watching him from the reeds.
He never imagined that what he was seeing would lead to an incredible rescue effort.
A Hidden Survivor
That same day, local bird rescuer Donna Cole received an urgent report about a bald eagle that had been struck by a vehicle on a nearby highway.
Fortunately, a Maryland police officer had arrived at the scene first. The officer quickly redirected traffic and followed the injured eagle as it made its way toward the river, seeking refuge.
By the time Donna reached the area, the eagle had vanished into a thick and tangled section of shoreline vegetation.
“It was a deeply wooded area with a lot of bramble, sticky bushes that made it impossible to get the eagle and then bring it back,” Donna told The Dodo.
After surveying the terrain, Donna realized that approaching from land would be nearly impossible. The only viable way to reach the injured bird was from the water.
Joining Forces For The Rescue
Donna contacted John Flood, a board member of the Arundel Rivers Federation, hoping he could assist. John had access to a boat and didn’t hesitate to help.
“John was pretty much immediately up for this adventure,” Donna said.
Together, they set out along the South River, scanning the shoreline carefully. Before long, they caught sight of the eagle again, but just as quickly as they found him, the bird disappeared into the dense undergrowth.
Under the hot afternoon sun, Donna and John continued their search for hours. Despite their determination, the thick vegetation made progress difficult, and eventually, they were forced to pause the rescue until the next day.
But just as Donna returned home to regroup, her phone rang. It was the Owl Moon Raptor Center with an unexpected update: a kayaker had just spotted the eagle on the opposite bank of the river.
“It was like two miracles, that the police officer was able to find the eagle the first time, and that the kayaker was able to find the bird the second,” Donna said.
A Successful Mission
Determined not to lose sight of the bird again, Donna and John quickly prepared for a second rescue attempt.
“John and I were both like, ‘Okay, we’ve got to do this’. We’ve come this far. We’ve got to get this bird the help it needs,” Donna shared.
They soon met up with the kayaker, who stayed near the eagle’s location to guide them. John carefully steered the boat into the shallow water while Donna got ready to move in.
Wading through nearly two feet of thick mud, Donna managed to reach the injured eagle and safely secure him, though she lost a shoe during the effort.
With the eagle finally rescued, they quickly transported him to the Owl Moon Raptor Center for emergency treatment and rehabilitation.
Donna expressed immense gratitude to everyone who played a part in saving the bird, recognizing just how challenging the operation had been.
“This was the longest, the most impossible rescue I’ve ever done. It was such a relief to finally get this bird,” she said.