51³Ô¹ÏÍø

A bald eagle was rescued after being spotted by a kayaker at Heron Lake State Park in Los Ojos, New Mexico, on July 10. Chad Wilder, a New Mexico resident who alerted rescuers to the injured bird, told Storyful that he was coming around a cove when he noticed the creature on the ground. He spent 30 minutes watching its movements through binoculars. 'Once he started to walk, I knew he wasn't healthy,' Wilder said. 'It was very labored and deliberate. When he attempted to jump up on a boulder, I could see his left wing was weak and knew I needed to help him.' Wilder sprang into action, calling a private rescue organization in Albuquerque called Hawks Aloft, who put him in touch with the director of the Santa Fe Raptor Center. Mario Garcia was sent from the rescue center and arrived within two hours to help rescue the bird. Wilder told Storyful that as they approached the cove, they heard the bald eagle, who was by then closer to the shore. That's when the bird jumped into the water to try and get away. Garcia rowed out and grabbed both of the eagle's shoulders, easing it out of the water while securing its legs and talons with tape before wrapping the bird in a towel. According to https://www.kob.com/new-mexico/video-shows-man-rescue-struggling-bald-eagle/ local media, Garcia said the bird is an older male. The footage shows the remarkable moment of Garcia coming ashore. Wilder said that a brief exam was given to the eagle, which found that his shoulder was swollen, and he was very thin. The eagle was brought to the Santa Fe Raptor Center for rehabilitation. (Footage by Chad Wilder/Storyful via Getty Images)