I almost bagged a Golden Eagle!

[Vicleonardo1]

Driving the back roads in my 2002 near Salem Oregon this afternoon. There was a beautiful Golden Eagle eating some carrion at the roads edge. Didn't see it until it took off...right in front of my car. Missed it by an inch..or less.

 

It struck me (after I almost struck it) Just wondering who I would call or contact if I had hit and injured or worse killed it. 

Fish and Wildlife? 

The local Sheriff? 

The Feds? 

Would I have committed a crime? (half joking)...

 

Cheers! 

[irdave]

If it's dead it's dead, what do you do?  If it's not dead, local animal control?  We have the CSU teaching vet hospital here, so makes it a little easier.  We also have a raptor program.  Probably something like that in Oregon...

 

And golden eagle is just a big bird, no worries, other than the dent it would leave.

[Vicleonardo1]

14 hours ago, irdave said:

If it's dead it's dead, what do you do?  If it's not dead, local animal control?  We have the CSU teaching vet hospital here, so makes it a little easier.  We also have a raptor program.  Probably something like that in Oregon...

 

And golden eagle is just a big bird, no worries, other than the dent it would leave.

It would have been a pretty large dent. I knew these birds were large, but my up close and personal encounter made me realize how large these birds can be. 

For the Pacific Northwest, I found this: https://www.fws.gov/pacific/eagle/all_about_eagles/injured_eagle.html

Plus the US Fish and Wildlife office should  be notified if the eagle is dead and they will harvest the feathers for the local Native American Tribes.

It is a big no-no to try and keep the bird/feathers for yourself. i.e no personal taxidermy allowed. 

[irdave]

That's cool that they give them to the Native people.

 

We have several bald eagles that fish in our back yard (river runs through it, literally.)  One day our 75 lb. German Shepherd mutt was sitting by one of the trees.  An eagle was up in the tree.  The house is about 50 yards away.  They were both the same size; the dog sitting there, the bird perched in the tree.  Big indeed.  They're cool for sure.