MASON CITY — An eagle struggling on the ground near the Winnebago River received a helping hand after a passerby spotted the bird and alerted authorities.
Mason City Police Chief Mike McKelvey shared the encounter in a social media post titled “A Friend in Need!” The eagle was found near South Birch Drive around 1 p.m. on the day before his post.
The bird was alive but appeared sick or injured, McKelvey said. Animal Control was called, and authorities contacted the Iowa Department of Natural Resources for assistance.
A responding DNR officer examined the eagle for visible injuries but found none. The officer then transported the bird for further assessment and care.
The encounter began with someone noticing an animal in distress and taking the time to get help. That call brought animal control and state wildlife personnel to the river corridor, giving the eagle a chance to receive care.
The cause of the eagle’s condition was not identified in McKelvey’s account. His post also did not name the facility receiving the bird or provide an update on its recovery.
For now, the chief’s message carries a hopeful wish shared by anyone rooting for the struggling raptor.
“Let’s hope this eagle can be saved!” McKelvey wrote.
(PHOTOS via Mason City police.)
