On a warm afternoon in Anne Arundel County, Maryland, a kayaker gently paddled along the quiet bends of the South River. The water shimmered under the sun, framed by tall reeds swaying in the breeze. But suddenly, something unusual broke the peaceful scene — a pair of piercing eyes peering out from the tangled green.
At first glance, the kayaker thought he was imagining it. But as he steered closer, he realized he was looking straight at a wounded bald eagle, the very bird that rescuers had been desperately searching for all day.
A Rescue That Nearly Slipped Away
Earlier that morning, wildlife advocate Donna Cole had been alerted about a bald eagle struck by a car on a nearby highway. Police officers had quickly stepped in, rerouting traffic and keeping the distressed bird from further harm as he staggered toward the river.
By the time Cole arrived, however, the eagle had disappeared into dense woodland. “It was a deeply wooded area with thick brambles and thorny bushes. There was no way to safely reach him,” Cole explained. Recognizing the challenge, she shifted strategies and sought help on the water instead.
With the support of John Flood, a board member of the Arundel Rivers Federation, Cole took to the river. They searched for hours in the sweltering heat, but the eagle stayed out of reach. Exhausted and empty-handed, they had to temporarily retreat.
An Unexpected Ally On The Water
That’s when fate intervened. A kayaker, gliding across the opposite side of the river, noticed the injured eagle resting weakly among the reeds. He quickly reported the sighting, giving Cole a second chance.
“It was like two miracles in one,” Cole recalled. “First, the police officer found the eagle, and then the kayaker spotted him again. Without them, we never would’ve had the chance.”
Rushing back with renewed determination, Cole and Flood met the kayaker at the site. Navigating shallow waters, Flood maneuvered his boat close while Cole leapt into knee-deep mud. Brambles scratched her arms, and in the scramble, she even lost a shoe — but none of that mattered. With steady hands, she finally secured the eagle.
Safe At Last
The majestic bird, though battered, was alive. Carefully placed in a transport box, he was rushed to the Owl Moon Raptor Center, where he began a long recovery journey under specialized care.
For Cole, the emotional weight of the rescue was overwhelming. “This was the longest, the most impossible rescue I’ve ever done,” she admitted. “The relief I felt when I finally held that eagle … it’s a moment I’ll never forget.”
Why Every Eagle Matters
Bald eagles, once endangered due to habitat loss and pesticide poisoning, have made a remarkable comeback across the U.S. thanks to decades of conservation work. Still, they face modern threats from vehicle collisions, power lines, and human development. Each rescue — like this one — is more than saving a single bird; it’s helping protect a symbol of resilience and freedom. Thanks to the quick-thinking kayaker, the dedication of police officers, and the tireless efforts of volunteers like Cole and Flood, one eagle has a second chance at soaring over Maryland’s skies again
