A Bald Eagle and a Ground Hog

What would you do if you accidentally hit an endangered bald eagle with your

car? The eagle had been feasting on roadkill when Robbie Tribbey couldn't avoid

hitting her. I think that what she and her son Devin did next was something

comparatively few of us would have done.

Horrified, Robbie stopped her car and would then spent a lot of time trying to

help the injured eagle. But first she realized that they had to protect her from

further injury. Luckily - they had a blanket with which they covered her so she

would not be spooked by on coming traffic.

This accident happened as they were driving through western Wisconsin going

home after a weekend trip to their cabin. This caring woman would later say of

this incident- "First I was scared to death, then I just wanted to cry because of

that poor bird." God bless her. She certainly was not one of the perhaps all-too-

many uncaring and irresponsible persons who would just drive off without trying

to help the injured eagle. Some people even drive off after hitting a human.

And this mother and her son would spend the next three hours trying to help

"America" as they named her. It's amazing too that Robbie knew of a wildlife-

rehab center in Duluth, Minnesota, where they first took her.

The workers at the center believed that America should be examined for internal

injuries, and that would require her to be transported to the Raptor Center at the

University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. It surprised me that they didn't offer to

do the transporting, but undeterred, Robbie herself would drive this injured and

endangered eagle there. I couldn't have done the same --not for lack of caring,

but for all the required driving. Obviously, I am not a good driver.

Good news. America had only some bumps and bruises. She was soon able to

stand and eat on her own. Both Robbie and Devin were happy to hear this, and

they look forward to the day when America can spread her wings again and fly

away.

At the TV station where she was being interviewed, Robbie said of the experience:

"I wanted to give my son a lesson in being kind and doing good. I really want to

see America released, and I would love to be there when that happens."

What a mom. I wish that many more of us would be like her. Sadly, I think she is

a rarity.

A NAMELESS GROUND HOG

Some years ago a young man whose name I have forgotten lived next door to me in

the front apartment with his dog Jake. Sadly, Jake somehow was not the friendliest

of dogs. My seven dogs were all good tempered and friendly; so in reality, this was my

first experience with one who wasn't.

And sadly too, Jake would soon prove to me that indeed he was not one of their ilk.

"Bill," his owner, was a decent chap and what happened next certainly was not his fault.

He had to put Jake on a tether any time he was placed in the back yard because there

was no gate in the yard to keep him in and from wandering.

But one day, a ground hog that I had never seen around before ventured into Jake's

yard. A big mistake, because Jake would do the unthinkable and attacked him. I did not

witness the attack, but when leaving my house for a walk, I spied the poor ground hog

on the ground. Clearly, he had been bitten by Jake. I called Bill and asked him if we

could take this poor groundhog, who I thought was still alive, to a relatively nearby

wildlife center.

Bill clearly felt bad about the groundhog and agreed. Neither of us had been to this

wildlife center before, but miraculously we found it. I had wrapped the groundhog in a

brown terrycloth towel and cradled him in my arms. But sadly when we got into the

center, we were both distressed to find out that the ground hog had died en route. That

was crushing news when we wanted so much for him to have a second chance.

I believe I left a small donation, knowing that they at least would take care of this dear

creature's body in a humane fashion.

Needless to say, the trip home was sad, but we had done what we could for a groundhog

who wandered into the wrong yard at the wrong time. Both Bill and Jake have moved on,

but the remembrance of this sad day comes back to me from time to time.