Injured Bald Eagle Creates Stir in Clearwater

CLEARWATER, FL — Clearwater Police are sworn to protect and serve; an oath many say extends to furry and feathered creatures as well as humans. Even so, it’s not every day they find themselves blocking off traffic to protect an injured bald eagle.

That happened to be the case Wednesday morning though. According to police, officers and members of Clearwater Fire & Rescue responded to an Oct. 5 call about a bald eagle that was perched in the middle of Countryside Boulevard near Westfield Countryside Mall.

“It appeared the eagle had been struck by a car while trying to feed on or grab a dead animal in the road,” the police department wrote in an email to media.

Hoping to help it avoid further injury, police and firefighters made the decision to block off two lanes of northbound Countryside Boulevard.

“The eagle then hopped off the side of the road, where it was later captured by a wildlife rescue specialist with help from police officers and firefighters,” the email said.

Police spokesman Rob Shaw said the eagle didn’t appear to be seriously injured after its run-in with traffic. “Except for an injured right wing that made it very difficult for him to fly any distance,” Shaw said.

The eagle was taken to Owl’s Nest Sanctuary for Wildlife for care after its injury, police said.

The eagle’s rescue isn’t the first time Clearwater police and firefighters have gone the extra mile to help non-human residents of the city. Earlier this year, firefighters swooped in to save ducklings that had managed to get themselves caught in a storm drain. Police officers also pitched in to save an injured cormorant near Pier 60 back in April.

Photos courtesy of the city of Clearwater