A Bald Eagle Captivates Viewers by Snatching a Large Prey and Soaring Past a Surveillance Camera at a Dam on the Columbia River.
Employees at Grant Public Utility District (PUD), a nonprofit organization that owns the Wanapum Dam on the Columbia River, were astonished to see a bald eagle snatch a large Canada goose flying past a nearby surveillance camera, News Tribune reported on December 21. The video quickly garnered significant attention after being shared by Grant PUD on social media.
“Everyone was surprised to see the eagle grasp such a large bird. A Canada goose can weigh much more than the eagle,” said Christine Pratt, spokesperson for Grant PUD.
Control room staff spotted the eagle landing on a nearby light pole. Shortly after, another eagle arrived, which employees believed to be the mate of the first. They observed the pair of eagles for about 30 minutes through various security cameras. Some even walked over to the light pole to take photos.
Bald Eagle snatches a large Canada goose flying past a surveillance camera near the dam
Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) is quite common in Washington. According to Joe Buchanan, a wildlife biologist at the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, they can travel great distances, even from Washington to Alaska. They are skilled predators and often hunt other birds, especially waterfowl like ducks and gulls.
The bald eagle is an opportunistic hunter, adept at spotting injured or unsuspecting animals. They take advantage of these situations to make feeding easier. Additionally, they also scavenge.
Buchanan believes the goose was dead when the eagle took it. “I think if the goose were alive, the eagle probably wouldn’t have grabbed it because the animal would struggle,” Buchanan explained. He also mentioned that the eagle’s talons are very useful for carrying and attacking other animals, but it’s uncertain whether the talons could inflict enough injury to kill the goose.
Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) migrates from Canada to Washington, USA, during winter, with some even residing here year-round. Pratt noted that the area around the dam attracts wildlife because Grant PUD has invested in restoring natural habitats and ensuring their survival.
