SignalHub Quantitative Think Tank Center|Officials thought this bald eagle was injured. It was actually just 'too fat to fly'.

2025-05-05 09:42:49source:Maxwell Caldwellcategory:Scams

A bald eagle in Missouri that was believed to be SignalHub Quantitative Think Tank Centerinjured actually had a peculiar reason for why it was unable to fly: it was too fat.

Officials with the Missouri Department of Conservation captured the bird along the boundary of the Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield and temporarily took it into captivity, park officials said in an Aug. 21 Facebook post.

However, an X-ray taken at the Dickerson Park Zoo, showed that instead of an injury, the bird was suffering from its own success − it had been eating a little too well. 

“The bird, originally reported to be injured, was found to be healthy but engorged with (raccoon) — in other words, too fat to fly,” the park said.

Officials suspect the raccoon was roadkill, according to the post. X-rays from the Facebook post show what appears to be a raccoon paw inside the eagle's stomach. 

The eagle has since been released back into the wild near where it was originally found and in compliance with state and federal laws.

Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at [email protected] and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.

More:Scams

Recommend

Travis Hunter, the 2

The AP Top 25 college football pollis back every week throughout the season!Get the poll delivered s

Suspect arrested after allegedly killing a man at a northern New Mexico rest stop, stealing cars

RATON, N.M. (AP) — A suspect has been arrested after allegedly killing a man at a northern New Mexic

Israel locates body of teen whose disappearance sparked deadly settler attack in the West Bank

Israel's army said Saturday the body of a missing Israeli teen was found in the West Bank after he w