"Freedom" is free, once more

[ossiblue]

Saw this on the news yesterday.

An eagle was caught in a tree by a rope that had snagged around his leg and wrapped around a tree limb. 75 feet above the ground. It had been hanging for 2 1/2 days and the authorities claimed they couldn't do anything and, if fact, the eagle was dead. Jason Galvin, an veteran and a sharpshooter, knew better. He borrowed a .22 rifle from a neighbor and began shooting at the rope. An hour and a half, and 150 shots later, the eagle was freed, taken to a recovery center, and is expected to regain full health.

Galvin named the eagle, "Freedom."

Good news is always welcomed.

Army veteran saves trapped eagle, Rush City MN

[Baz]

Thanks for posting this, LJ.

It's a great story. Sad when our government let's us down. The important thing is that "Freedom' will recover, thanks to this wonderful veteran.

Here is the facebook post written by Jason's wife apparently:

Best story of a lifetime!

Jason went to the store yesterday from the cabin and when he came back he told me there was an eagle at the end of our road hanging upside down by its foot from a tree branch with rope caught around it.

We had to go have the inspection done on our new house and all the way there I called the sheriffs office, city hall, fire department, U of M Raptor center , DNR Conservation Officer and all the stories were the same. They said it had been there for 2 1/2 days and that there was nothing they could do and that the eagle had died and the movement we saw was only the wind blowing it.

I told them they were wrong and it was very much alive and somebody needed to help it immediately! They all said sorry but there was nothing they could do.

I told Jason he had to shoot it free! He was nervous as he didn't want to get in trouble for shooting at an eagle but I know with his sharp shooter skills that if anyone would save this eagle it was him!

A neighbor at the cabin drove by and borrowed Jason his .22 as it had a better scope than Jason's. It was windy and he only had about 4" of rope to shoot without hitting the eagle. As he assessed the elements of the weather he took a couple of practice shots to ensure the sight was on target. It was. He began shooting at the rope.

An hour and a half later and 150 bullets, the eagle broke free from the branch and fell 75' into the trees of the woods.

The DNR showed up about 1/2 hour before as he gave Jason permission to try to save this beautiful bird.

We wrapped him in a blanket and put him in our dog kennel and the DNR brought him to meet the Raptor Center Vet. It sounds like the eagle will recover perfectly and at 150 rounds shot, Jason never once hit the bird.

I can't even tell you how amazing this experience was and I knew of all people, my husband wouldn't let me down!

We named the eagle Freedom and hope to be able to release him near his home once he is back to health!

What an amazing hero, my Army Veteran saving an eagle on 4th of July Weekend! I love you Jason and all that you are!

[wdfifteen]

It's a great story. Yes, it's sad when our government lets us down, but i don't see what that's got to do with the story you posted.

[Baz]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

It's a great story. Yes, it's sad when our government lets us down, but i don't see what that's got to do with the story you posted.

You must have missed this part of the story:

all the way there I called the sheriffs office, city hall, fire department, U of M Raptor center , DNR Conservation Officer and all the stories were the same. They said it had been there for 2 1/2 days and that there was nothing they could do and that the eagle had died and the movement we saw was only the wind blowing it.

[Noah930]

Wait, it took 150 shots?! And he didn't hit the bird?! And wherever this took place is rural enough that 150 bullets fling back to earth weren't a concern?

Wow, that is an incredible story. Plus, he saved the bird!

[Bill Douglas]

I can imagine the eagle standing around at the eagle bar later that night... "Honestly, he fired about 150 shots at me and still didn't hit me."

[Heel n Toe]

Originally Posted by Noah930

Wait, it took 150 shots?! And he didn't hit the bird?! And wherever this took place is rural enough that 150 bullets fling back to earth weren't a concern?

I saw this on the news the other night, too. He was shooting at that thick part of the limb to the right of where the netting/eagle was hanging.

I hear your concern, but with a scope, from 75 feet, that's an easy shot, and I assume almost every shot went through the limb and lost a lot of velocity. He may have also known that the area downrange was uninhabited.

[wdfifteen]

Originally Posted by Baz

You must have missed this part of the story:

all the way there I called the sheriffs office, city hall, fire department, U of M Raptor center , DNR Conservation Officer and all the stories were the same. They said it had been there for 2 1/2 days and that there was nothing they could do and that the eagle had died and the movement we saw was only the wind blowing it.

Why do you have to poo on an otherwise positive story?

It seems like some people just have to complain. Some complain about the nanny state wanting to do everything for us and others complain that we don't have a Department of Rescuing Critters From Trees. It's not just on line. i know people IRL that if you gave them a bag of money they'd complain about how heavy it is.

[speeder]

Originally Posted by wdfifteen

Why do you have to poo on an otherwise positive story?

It seems like some people just have to complain. Some complain about the nanny state wanting to do everything for us and others complain that we don't have a Department of Rescuing Critters From Trees. It's not just on line. i know people IRL that if you gave them a bag of money they'd complain about how heavy it is.

Absolutely true. Anti-govt. types are the biggest whiners and crybabies on earth.