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To the Editor:

   I’m writing this because of my concern regarding an injured bald eagle. On December 27, 2024. My wife and I discovered on Hwy. 11 near Deer River a bald eagle, our cherished national symbol, which appeared to have been hit by a vehicle. At first it wasn’t moving. However my wife saw it lift its head. We turned around and sure enough it was alive. We began making calls to find out what we could do to provide help for this national bird. We reached an officer at the Department of Natural Resources and were told that someone would be coming in half an hour.

   We stayed for some time. We asked how we might be able to help and it was suggested I could carefully move the eagle down into the ditch. So I did. Still no one came.

   We had no choice but to leave as my wife was in need of the emergency room.

   Fast forward, my wife was hospitalized and time passed before we were on that road again on a return trip to the doctor. Our hearts broke and anger and disappointment rose when we discovered this poor animal dead and its body lying in the ditch. My concern is why no one came. And we were not told where we could have taken this bird for veterinary care and rehabilitation. Isn’t that one of the things that DNR is there for, to provide and protect our national wildlife?

   Note: we marked the spot on a sign by the road so it could easily be found. This seems to be such an injustice so we wanted to say something!

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