I Hit A Bald Eagle With My Truck

[frozenchief]

Not something you see every day. Driving in to work and bald eagle swoops down to get some road kill. This eagle and another had been fighting with a few crows. Problem was he went to get it when I was way too close to him. He tried to fly away but there was just no way he could get away in time.

[alanm]

Originally Posted by InChiefsHeaven

As I understood it, the American Bald Eagle WAS on the endangered list but at some point was just moved to Protected or whatever. In any case, we're seeing them around here the last couple of years. I mean, I had never seen one in my life until about 2 years ago. It's kinda breathtaking to be honest. I'm sure as they become more common, it'll be less impressive, but if I see one, I stop and watch.

My wife was watering the flowers by the side of the house, and heard the scraping of talons on the gutters above. She looked up and out of the corner of her eye saw this thing swooping above her head and then it took off down the street. It was a bald eagle, must have either been perched on the roof or was swooping down and hit the gutter. Freaky...

They are BIG for sure, as the OP pic illustrates.

So, what did they do with it? Like, carefully peel it off and stick it in a box for tagging and disposal?

Shit their all over the place out here in Western Nebraska and Eastern Wyoming. Nowadays I get a thrill when I spot a Big Horn Sheep. They started intoducing them about 20yrs ago in the Wildcat Hills. Now they have a hunting season for them since they've thrived so well.

[displacedinMN]

Now the other question, are you okay? And what's gonna happen to the truck?

Sent from my SM-G991U using Tapatalk

[Boise_Chief]

"So, what did they do with it? Like, carefully peel it off and stick it in a box for tagging and disposal?"


Yeah probably will ship it off to a facility to make sure it was hit by a truck. I have a friend that runs a lab that deals with poaching and fish and game crimes. She says that sh3 deals witha bunch of dumb stuff and half of it is related to asian black market stuff antlers horns gall bladders you know nature's "viagra"

[Mr_Tomahawk]

I think, you have bad luck forever now.

[BWillie]

I think frozen chief should serve time

[Ming the Merciless]

Originally Posted by Boise_Chief

"So, what did they do with it? Like, carefully peel it off and stick it in a box for tagging and disposal?"


Yeah probably will ship it off to a facility to make sure it was hit by a truck. I have a friend that runs a lab that deals with poaching and fish and game crimes. She says that sh3 deals witha bunch of dumb stuff and half of it is related to asian black market stuff antlers horns gall bladders you know nature's "viagra"

they should just go to HIMS.COM . so much easier than hitting bald eagles with your truck

[Bob Dole]

Originally Posted by Rausch

Do not recommend.

Once the meat is severely bruised like that it tastes like shit.

It’s a duck. It tastes like shit anyway.

[frozenchief]

Originally Posted by displacedinMN

Now the other question, are you okay? And what's gonna happen to the truck?

Sent from my SM-G991U using Tapatalk

I'm okay. Need to get the front grill on my truck replaced.. Maybe some other stuff. I wanted to replace the grill anyway and put in a metal grill. Now I will just have to pay for the difference between the OEM grill and the after market metal grill. Might upgrade lights as well. Put some good yellow fog lights in for snowy/foggy nights.

But because the car is drivable, can't get it into the body shop until July.

[frozenchief]

Originally Posted by BWillie

I think frozen chief should serve time

You aren't the only one. Rep.

[displacedinMN]

Originally Posted by frozenchief

I'm okay. Need to get the front grill on my truck replaced.. Maybe some other stuff. I wanted to replace the grill anyway and put in a metal grill. Now I will just have to pay for the difference between the OEM grill and the after market metal grill. Might upgrade lights as well. Put some good yellow fog lights in for snowy/foggy nights.

But because the car is drivable, can't get it into the body shop until July.

Not a surprise about July. It sucks though. no radiator or fan issues?

[Rain Man]

Originally Posted by frozenchief

I'm okay. Need to get the front grill on my truck replaced.. Maybe some other stuff. I wanted to replace the grill anyway and put in a metal grill. Now I will just have to pay for the difference between the OEM grill and the after market metal grill. Might upgrade lights as well. Put some good yellow fog lights in for snowy/foggy nights.

But because the car is drivable, can't get it into the body shop until July.

You need to install this on the new grill as a memorial:

https://wildlifewonders.com/eagle-grille-ornament/

[alanm]

How many road kills do you have? You could add a eagle to the side of your door along with the others. Like fighter pilots did with Japanese zeros in WWII

[frozenchief]

Originally Posted by alanm

How many road kills do you have? You could add a eagle to the side of your door along with the others. Like fighter pilots did with Japanese zeros in WWII

I have a couple of dogs and cats but no other road kill. God knows if I hit a moose I'd total my car and maybe wind up in the hospital. This is the only eagle I've hit and based upon my (admittedly) informal survey over the past 24+ hours, I seem to be the only person to have hit a bald eagle with my car based upon a survey of people with roughly 500+ accumulated years of living in Alaska. Fortunately, I wasn't hurt and the damage was cosmetic because my car still functions. But I'm definitely thinking of using the eagle badge when I get my new grill. Those who don't know won't know but those who do will understand.

Also, I know I didn't have to give a lengthy 'explanation' of what I did but I included it as an education if nothing else. It isn't a way to justify myself but a what to do if you're in a sticky spot. As I said, I don't expect any criminal charges. And chances of a civil fine are low, particularly since I didn't keep anything from the animal and took pains to document that fact. Rather, I helped the APD officer extract it from my grill and put it into a trash bag. He took possession of it and I don't know what happened after that. I expect it will go to USF&W for a necropsy to see: toxin levels; damage; general health, etc. I dont know where it will go from here but this has been one of the more unusual situations in my life. I am glad I know the USF&W prosecutor and a number of Asst. U.S. Attorneys. I don't think they could decline charges based on my relationship but I can see them saying, "If we seek a civil fine, that SOB is going to fight us tooth and nail and we have better things to do with our time than seek a civil fine for something so clearly unavoidable."

Besides that, I can always show the picture of my truck and say that my nickname is now 'Eagle Killer'. Maybe word of this gets to Patrick Mahomes and I can get a seat in his suite next time KC plays Philadelphia. They'll show pictures of my truck with the embedded eagle on the screens at Arrowhead. Maybe photoshop Mahomes into the driver's seat and a Philly football helmet onto the bird's head. Hell, maybe Clay can make that meme next time we play Philly. I can't do much with Photoshop. I can pound the drum and we can get PETA to protest and even more national attention. Meet Taylor. I can say, "Yeah, Travis has caught a ton of TDs but has he killed an eagle? I have, baby." Then the news will be about how Taylor Swift is dating this fat, balding lawyer from Alaska. So, yeah, I'm pretty much on the rocket ride to stardom at this point.

[philfree]

So bizarre.

[ptlyon]

You really need to sue the federal government over vehicle damage and pain, suffering, and mental anguish brah.

Would go to a much better use of our tax dollars IMO.