A bald eagle in Missouri believed to be injured turned out to have a different problem ― overeating.
The bird of prey had been captured by the Missouri Department of Conservation after someone spotted it on the edge of Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield and reported that it was hurt, parks officials wrote on Facebook last week.
But instead of finding any injuries, X-rays revealed the eagle was just very full of food.
The eagle was “engorged” with raccoon, the park said, adding that the bird was, “in other words, too fat to fly.”
The post included an X-ray image that shows a raccoon’s paw inside the eagle’s stomach. The raccoon was probably roadkill before it became a meal, according to the park.
The stuffed bird was rehabilitated before being released back in the wild.
The Missouri Department of Conservation also shared the news, noting that the bird had been “grounded” by “some real good eating.”
Quite a few people on social media found the eagle’s predicament pretty relatable.
me as a bird https://t.co/N4N2J0hVTf
— Elvia Limón (@elvialimon) August 28, 2024
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me as a bird https://t.co/N4N2J0hVTf
— Elvia Limón (@elvialimon) August 28, 2024
Me after getting a cheesesteak at Lower after the game Saturday https://t.co/KOIhptJmpc
— iolar (@1ittleknownfact) August 31, 2024
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Me after getting a cheesesteak at Lower after the game Saturday https://t.co/KOIhptJmpc
— iolar (@1ittleknownfact) August 31, 2024