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‘Injured’ bald eagle found in Missouri actually just ‘too fat to fly’

The eagle (Dickerson Park Zoo)

When conservation officials captured this bald eagle in Missouri, they assumed it was dealing with some sort of trauma or illness. However, much to their surprise, the beautiful bird was suffering from something we’ve all dealt with: too big of a lunch!

The Missouri Department of Conservation found the bird along the boundary of Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield. After reports first indicated that the eagle was injured, it was actually found to be engorged with a racoon that was likely roadkill.

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The Dickerson Park Zoo provided x-ray images of the eagle, which show the raccoon’s entire paw in the bird’s stomach.

An X-ray image of the eagle's stomach (Dickerson Park Zoo)

After the eagle had some time to work off its big meal, it was released near the area where it was found in compliance with federal and state laws.


About the Author
Michael Horton headshot

Michael is a Kingwood native who loves visiting local restaurants and overreacting to Houston sports. He joined the KPRC 2 family in the spring of 2024. He earned his B.A. from Texas A&M University in 2022 and his M.A. from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2023.

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