Commuters on their way to work and school in Eau Claire, Wisconsin got a bit of a surprise Wednesday, September 30, 2015. Drivers along Highway 53 might occasionally spot deer standing along the side of the road, but it's extremely rare to see the national bird of the United States of America sitting on the roadside.

When authorities arrived, the eagle was standing over a raccoon carcass, and was making no attempt to fly away, even as the traffic slowed down so travelers could get pictures of the majestic bird. Officers that responded believed the eagle was probably injured.

Because it's not everyday you see an eagle along the side of the road, daily commuters turned into gawkers, paying more attention to the bald eagle than their driving, causing two separate accidents.

Traffic was eventually detoured around the eagle, allowing the authorities time to clean up the accidents.

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) was able to safely remove the bird from the roadside. The eagle was taken to the University of Minnesota's Raptor Center to be evaluated.

 

 

 

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