A bald eagle struck and killed by a vehicle Friday in Wisconsin should serve as a reminder to motorists everywhere to exercise caution.
“We would like to remind you that eagles are commonly feeding alongside the highways this time of year,” the Vilas County Sheriff’s Office stated Friday via social media. “We ask that you please use caution and remember that eagles need extra time and space to gain flight.”
The adult bald eagle carcass was discovered next to a highway in St. Germain and turned over to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. (Image posted below.)
The Vilas County Sheriff’s Office noted that the American bald eagle – the country’s national bird since 1872 – “represents freedom in our nation and is highly revered and considered sacred within the Native American culture.”
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The agency added: “Our intention of posting this picture is not to disrespect what the bald eagle represents or means to anyone, rather bring attention to this very important issue in the Northwoods.”
Bald eagles are found throughout the U.S., mostly near waterways and coasts. They’re known for their regal appearance and colossal size, with wingspans measuring nearly seven feet.
The raptors prey mostly on fish, but are opportunistic and also prey on mammals and will eat carrion from roads.
According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, the oldest recorded bald eagle in the wild “was at least 38 years old when it was hit and killed by a car in New York in 2015.”
That eagle was banded in New York in 1977.
–Bald eagle images courtesy of ©Pete Thomas