Unbelievable Moment: The Incredible Story of the Rare Rescue of a Dale Hollow Bald Eagle!!

Through a concerted effort by Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency, US Fish and Wildlife Services, The Army Corps of Engineers, Nick Dwyer Tree Care (nickdwyertreecare.com/), and American Eagle Foundation a challenging rescue of a young bald eagle took place on Dale Hollow Lake in Tennessee. WARNING: Some of the images may be considered graphic.
For updates on the young eaglet's recovery check our social media channels:
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Linkedin: / american-eagle-foundation
©2023 American Eagle Foundation

[@michelew2750]

Heartbroken💔 ... Angry!😡 ... So many feelings.😥 First, THANK YOU to everyone who helped rescue, and gave from your hearts to help DH18. My thoughts are with you.❤🙏 I know that rescuing eagles is not easy or free of risk; but, the unwillingness of DH to consider helping - for days - was irresponsible, and probably what caused injuries to become so severe. I enjoy these channels because nature and it's creatures are amazing, interesting, and I learn so much. I realize that tragedies (attacks, illness, weather, etc) may happen - that is nature whether we are watching or not. But, in this case a human left that fishing line that was brought to the nest, and it soon became obvious that the eagles could not remove it themselves. It became human responsibility to resolve the problem. There should be some responsibility that goes with installing cams, and whatever the owners get from doing so. When it became obvious that the entanglement was threatening the ability of at least one eagle to move freely, intervention was needed. Instead, there was denial, and chat was closed to silence viewers' observations. (Although, yes, some comments were extreme, inconsiderate to moderators, and should have been blocked). DH18's rescue came too late. I am grateful that intervention prevented DH17 from suffering the same fate. I hope that lessons were learned, and that changes can come from this loss. Soar peacefully in heaven, DH18.🌌 🦅❤

[@veronicalake5593]

I agree with you. Being our national protected bird you would think better decisions would be made. Possessing an Eagle feather would have law enforcement respond faster than DH decided to.

[@michelew2750]

@@veronicalake5593 Sad, but very true.

[@Arieskie]

I agree with all except blocking any comments. Whatever they received they deserved.

[@janajamer734]

​@@veronicalake5593 You are absolutely right about the citing one of having an Eagle feather would been faster than this rescue attempt. And by waiting so long to intervene for a human caused issue they knew it would be a recovery, not a rescue. It was heartbreaking 💔

[@sheliad2821]

Moved to tears each time I view this....Thank you AEF and to all the viewers on the cam that raised the alarm that help was needed.

[@onababona6101]

too late

[@rafael-ets2667]

Yes

[@steemdup]

I'm crushed to hear that little DH18 was too injured to make it, but I am grateful that someone cared enough to provide medical aid, in spite of how things turned out. Thank you 😭

[@onababona6101]

Thank you all who were trying to help🌹🌻

[@Mohammed-ui4qr]

Hi

[@LinkaBellGAME]

Still very sad about the news yesterday 😔 18 will be greatly missed. You all did an amazing job doing what you could but quality of life was not good... 😢😢😢fly high 18

[@Mary-zr1vi]

It was a shock to learn of DH18 passing away on the 3rd. I guess I just thought the rescue would save its life. There are no words...

[@mattpike7268]

This event showed the true colors of the DH chat community. They were always a bit rude, but the absolute meltdown that occured there was shameful, and a black mark on all of the eagle watching community. Thank you for all you do AEF 👍

[@janetra1111]

A million thanks…♥️

[@irenegea7644]

New subscriber here. What an amazing bird.

[@AmericanEagleFoundation]

Welcome aboard!

[@suzansacket1084]

@AEF cannot believe DH18 suffered one week on the nest before rescue. there needs to be accountability. We all know it. They just won’t admit it. Thank you to everyone at AEF who showed love and care in his last hours 💔🥺

[@PriscillaD225]

I cannot wipe this tragedy from my mind nor heart. It’s un fathomable that DH is still allowed to have their cameras up. Please,please, don’t condone this behavior. This was cruel. Rest in peace 18. You are finally free of your tormentors. 🦅❤️🙏🏼

[@Nightlife52]

I couldn’t agree more😢

[@Arieskie]

I’m certain you mean DHEC’s and it’s horrible mods’ behaviors. That eaglet would most likely been alive to fledge had the rescue occurred earlier. As in when it was first seen, not 5 days later.

[@PriscillaD225]

@@Arieskie Yes!! The tormentors who watched and mocked those who were advocating for this helpless creature. Yes it’s nature BUT we saw it. If you put a camera up you have a morale obligation. Says a great deal about those mods doesn’t it!!!

[@Arieskie]

@PriscillaDalfonso1224 19’s death was nature. 18’s was torture.

[@hadassah2998]

Hopefully the Eaglet will have a speedy recovery🦅🙏 and thank you to all the wonderful staff👍

[@vickysikora3394]

Thank you for helping one of God's most beautiful creatures! I pray he/she can be returned to its nest.🦅🙏🏼☝🏼✝️

[@onababona6101]

too late...it had to be euthanized.

[@richaveritt7297]

He dead

[@LinkaBellGAME]

18 sadly had to be euthanized, the injury was too severe and would cause life long pain. No one wanted 18 to suffer that.😢

[@LinkaBellGAME]

@@onababona6101 I could've been but once a fish snaps a line that's it, can't exactly catch it quickly... but very sad. 😥

[@LinkaBellGAME]

@@onababona6101 I know that,you didn't read what I said. The fishing line is what caused this, the fish broke free and couldn't get caught by the fisherman, the eagle catches it and this happens.

[@pesyira]

Thank you so very much🙏😍 Mr. Nick👍👍 Hoping DH18 gets well quickly🙏🙏 Be blessed, dear veterinarians😍 Be blessed, devoted kind people😍🙏 Amazing Eagle family😍 Keep thriving, DH17 and Mom River😍💞❤

[@theestuary8247]

Thank you for the work you do. Intense.

[@ellensopcich-ey3on]

That's awesome! Thanks for what you do!

[@laurela.6327]

Can't wait for the update, great work! Thanks

[@onababona6101]

help came too late- eagled was euthanized

[@iyhal]

good job

[@jacquelineortiz880]

How sad RIP 18

[@beckylporter7154]

We all do very much wish that this had a better outcome! Obviously help was just too late 💔❤️🦅 May there be something positive that results from your death caused by mankind 🙏

[@veronicalake5593]

DH has the worst moderators.

[@Nightlife52]

Nope, soon enough was too late😭

[@pepperlee2313]

The eaglet had fishing line around his leg and was also wrapped around the other eaglet. when the other eaglet tried to move it just got tighter and you seen what happened. The eaglet did not survive.

[@user-zt5cg8ng8v]

Господи какое зло кругом. Все средства нашлись, чтобы взобраться на гнездо. Но уже поздно 😢

[@onababona6101]

@@user-zt5cg8ng8v 😞

[@user-hh8yd7tp5f]

ありがとう。尊敬します。

[@Eagle621]

Very tragic turn of events. The responsibility of having a permit to install a nest cam and moderators to watch over it, is a serious commitment. Having watched DH since the eggs were first laid, I have been dumbfounded by the complete lack of knowledge of the site’s moderators. As a wildlife biologist who lives in the TN mountains, and as an avid Bald Eagle enthusiast, I am outraged that the situation was allowed to progress so far ending in the euthanasia of 18. My belief is that USFW, and TN Wildlife Resources should file charges and revoke Dale Hollows permits. This should never have happened😡

[@LumiEvie]

Dale Hollow was talking about turning off the cameras on Facebook a few days ago, so you may get your wish. I guess it's better for everyone to not know how they are doing.

[@__G___]

@Eagle621 you're a disgusting person, I feel sorry for your family

[@deborasorensen8702]

😢😡

[@eileenjones3918]

Sir ...As I respect your opinion, I might ask...How was the situation affected by the camera ,Dale Hollow permits , the moderator and the opinions? If the camera wasn't there then knowing the Eaglet was in danger would have gone unnoticed and both Eaglets would have died because of the fishing line...AH there lies the real problem...the fishing line!!!! Neglectful fishermen are to blame along with the fishing line. BTW ...many Eagles & Eaglets are saved by the Cameras and the people watching who voice their opinion to all the WILDLIFE RESOURCES ! Thank You

[@Nightlife52]

Eagle621: Agree wholeheartedly with all you’ve said; but would add (and AEF agrees) this was a PREVENTABLE loss. Shame, shame, shame. 😡

[@andream5327]

RIP Baby DH18 🙏🌈🐥🌈🙏❤❤❤😢😢😢😢Thanks to everyone who saved him. Unfortunately he didn't make it. He just lay in the nest with those devastating wounds for too long. I hope death wasn't in vain. Those responsible should be held accountable and their license removed. In my eyes, that was animal cruelty. -😥

[@TomSawyerEaglePro]

I don't normally post comments negatively but I am not happy with how this was handled by Dale Hollow. I first want to say AEF did a great job on the rescue and Nick is great. This was a man made issue from fishing line, 100% and Dale Hollow waited and waited and kept taking the position that they wouldn't help until a friend of mine started a petition and called them to scold them along with others and when we got more people involved to get this rescue pushed it finally happened. The euthanizing of 18 could have been prevented if the Eaglet was rescued sooner. I need to read the reports but I think Dale Hollow just waited way too long to act and I don't want to be too harsh here because Dale Hollow fans are still grieving over this awful season losing Obey and the youngest but Dale Hollow owes a big apology to everyone of us fans for letting 18 get that bad off to the point of euthanizing. I know it takes time to get a rescue organized but Dale Hollow didn't start soon enough!💔

[@mr2981]

That is sad and alarming if true. edit: I went and checked it out, it is as you said. Tragic.

[@tamaragonzalez2227]

Listen!!! they didn't need to go at all. This is nature and this cam is to let us watch nature. Your B'ching here is not welcome. Nature is cruel and time you faced reality. Again I will repeat they did NOT have to go to try to rescue that eagle. We who follow many nests have watched many eaglets die so I suggest you take your whining little hurt feelings and start learning how to control yourself and next time STHU.

[@PriscillaD225]

Thank you for your intervention. The suffering of these two eaglets would still be going on had you and your friends not acted. ❤

[@TomSawyerEaglePro]

@@mr2981 - It's truly tragic. I'm not happy with Dale Hollow right now. DH needs to put out an apology for not acting soon enough and an assurance they will never make a mistake like that again if there's a man made threat to the nest.

[@TomSawyerEaglePro]

@@PriscillaD225 - Thank you. I'm very unhappy with Dale Hollow. They need to put out an apology for not acting soon enough and an assurance they will never make a mistake like this again if there's a man made threat to the nest like fishing line. Every other monitored nest would've acted sooner.

[@user-ov2ys1ne7x]

Wichtige Dinge im Leben, der Ausbilderschein ein Fahrertraining eine Gesundheitsernährung ein Psychogen eine Suchtambulanz (Öle und Fette und Zucker und Taback und Alkohol usw.)

[@Nightlife52]

This unfortunate loss of 18 has now involved many people with differing opinions. HOWEVER, there are real facts here that should not be overlooked. This loss was preventable. Man made fishing line entangled these birds. It was an act of animal cruelty when DH actually watched for days while these animals were suffering. For some reason, they chose not to act in accordance with Federal guidelines even though they knew or should have known these animals were suffering. The DH camera should be taken down immediately and all permits and licenses revoked.

[@isabelledutoit]

Thank you so much for speaking the truth about this! ❤ It’s a terrible shame. The people responsible for wasting time should be ashamed. This was not nature taking it’s course. Humans need to take responsibility for human actions.

[@Nightlife52]

@@isabelledutoit You are most welcome and the points you made are spot on as well. Ignorance of the law is not an excuse.

[@PriscillaD225]

Patricia, I absolutely agree with you.🦅🥰🙏🏼

[@elizagzlz9636]

Lo rescataron para decidir que debía dormir?😒😪 Había otro tipo de soluciones! Porque lo durmieron?😒 Solo porque decidieron que el iba a sufrir por las lesiones? Hay muchos casos donde ha pasado cosas parecidas y han tenido final feliz! Lo siento pero no estoy de acuerdo en lo que hicieron 😢

[@marycebzanov5633]

They waited too long to do this rescue. As a result this baby didn't make it.

[@__G___]

Did you help with this rescue?

[@sheliad2821]

@@__G___ Did you??

[@__G___]

​​@@sheliad2821 nope, I'm also not here casting judgement and assumptions because I'm not a qualified professional. I'm glad they are shutting this cam down, you people are psychos that watch these cams humanizing a damn bird

[@eileenjones3918]

You can't blame the rescue team....How many Eagles die out in the wild Examples ....Harriet & Samson both presumed dead after encounters with intruders....can the rescue save them from nature , no but they searched a long time in hopes of finding the, possibly injured Eagles and saving them. No cameras in the woods so we don't know what happened. They watched this Eaglet in hopes it could untangle itself when that didn't happen they went.

[@onababona6101]

😞

[@charlottethien3749]

So sad . What took so long ? Why ?

[@__G___]

Did you help with the rescue?

[@onababona6101]

so sad that people (possibly children) were watching eaglets suffering for such a long time... 😞

[@onababona6101]

@@__G___ did the rescuers help in time ???

[@dannysavagedraftguru]

Is it true bird croaked ?

[@kevinkall8547]

where do you actually state why you needed to rescue the bird? and when did "do not interfere" change from those watching animals in Africa to those in US? do you really think eagles are still facing extinction? leave them alone and quit banding them.

[@intaegle1789]

Thank! 👌👍❤👏