County Worker Checks on Injured Bald Eagle for Days

When Daylon Harn stopped to clear a deer carcass from a Washington road on January 30th, a bald eagle suddenly emerged from the bushes with an injured wing.

The Chelan County Public Works driver was inspecting roads in the Entiat District when he spotted the majestic bird. Wildlife experts later determined the eagle may have been hurt fighting off two large vultures competing for food.

Harn contacted the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service for help, but the agency was tied up with an urgent missing person's case. So he did something remarkable: he kept coming back.

Over the next few days, Harn checked on the eagle during his weekend road inspections. The bird couldn't fly long distances but stayed near the intersection of Entiat River Road and Entiat Way, still showing plenty of fight.

"The bird still had a lot of life in it," Harn said.

Two days later, on February 1st, Harn returned when a neighbor contacted a private wildlife rescue company. He helped the rescue team capture the eagle by throwing a blanket over it, and the bird was transported to a rehabilitation facility in Pullman.

Sunny's Take

Harn, who recently joined Public Works and grew up in the Entiat Valley, could have easily moved on after that first day. But he kept returning, fitting eagle checks into his regular work routine like it was the most natural thing in the world.

When asked why he made the effort, his answer was beautifully simple: "That's our nation's bird."

Sometimes the brightest acts of care don't require speeches or ceremonies, just someone who shows up day after day until help arrives.