Delta Police Save Injured Bald Eagle on Highway 17

A bald eagle's second chance at life came down to seconds on Highway 17 in Delta, thanks to quick-thinking police officers who turned their cruiser into an emergency ambulance.

The healthy 10-year-old male eagle was wandering dangerously close to traffic near Highway 99 on February 11 when five concerned citizens called the Orphaned Wildlife Rehabilitation Society (OWL). Delta police arrived first and managed to safely capture the injured bird, getting him off the road before another vehicle could finish what the first one started.

"If they didn't get it when they got it, probably would have got run over and we'd be picking up a body and not a live bird," said Rob Hope, OWL's manager. "The police officers were wonderful. They went above and beyond to take care of the animal."

One officer stayed with the eagle while another picked up Hope to transport the bird to safety. The eagle has paralysis but no broken bones, and veterinary staff have started him on medication. Hope estimates it will take about 10 days to know if the bird will make a full recovery.

Sunny's Take

This story isn't just about one eagle. It's about a community that stops to care. Five strangers took time from their morning to make calls. Police officers, trained for human emergencies, became gentle wildlife rescuers. Volunteers drove hours to help.

The night before the eagle rescue, OWL took in an injured owl from Abbotsford, also hit by a vehicle near Highway 1. That bird arrived visibly relieved, according to Abbotsford Police, and is now alert and standing. Both birds are getting the care they need because people chose to act.

Hope notes that roadside litter attracts rodents, which attract raptors like eagles and owls, leading to more bird strikes. Small choices about where we toss our trash can have big consequences for wildlife.

OWL handles about a dozen bird strike calls each month during this season, and most birds don't survive. These two did because strangers became heroes. The rehab center welcomes visitors to its free annual open house on May 30 and 31, where donations help give more injured animals their second chance at flight.

Sometimes saving a life is as simple as making a phone call and waiting with a frightened animal until help arrives.