Injured American Bald Eagle Gets Helping Hand From Goshen Police

GOSHEN, NY — The likeness of the American bald eagle is the symbol of our nation's might, and there is perhaps no better display of that might than an act of shared compassion that helped protect a proud raptor in peril.

An injured female bald eagle found on a road in Orange County was taken for veterinary care after a driver called in the sighting and two officers responded.

The incident happened in Goshen on Thursday when a passing driver spotted the bird and quickly called Officer Natalie Welsh and Officer Derrick Kenan. With help from neighbors, the officers worked to keep the eagle safe until additional help arrived.

The response required specific handling rules for the protected bird.

"We followed all the right steps (the protocol is different with bald eagles) to protect her and contacted a local bird rehabilitator," Goshen police said.

The rehabilitator arrived soon after being contacted and took the eagle to a veterinarian for care, according to the source.

"Thank god for our local contacts because he came right away to take the eagle to a vet for care," according to the department.