Police Save Young Eagle Sheltering Under SUV From Scorching Arizona Heat

Mohave Desert deputies in Arizona got an unusual rescue call recently when construction workers noticed a young hawk seeking shelter under a police SUV in an attempt to shelter from the blistering heat. The Weather Channel shared a video of the rescue on Friday, July 26th, and it's a story with a happy ending.

After the police received the call on July 11th, they knew they had to help the eagle. They moved the police vehicle so they could reach the bird and then scooped the eagle up using a towel. They put the eagle in the backseat of their vehicle with the air conditioning on to cool him down. A rescue group called the Arizona Raptor Center came to pick him up shortly thereafter.

I'm so glad this story has a happy ending! The rescue group said it was likely that he was somehow separated from his parents and probably wouldn't have survived had the deputies not intervened. I also thought it was cute that at the beginning of the video The Weather Channel called the fledgling a 'lucky duck'.

Related: Man Rescues Eagle From the Water and People Are Having a Field Day Over the Video

Cool Eagle Facts

The young eagle in this story likely shared a nest with his mom and dad, who both share parenting duties. Eagle nests are huge; they are usually about 6 feet across and are built by both the male and female. They use the same nest every year when they mate, and during the spring and summer they add fresh grass and twigs to it. Although it's not clear why they do this, scientists believe the greenery may act as insect repellent, may let other eagles know the nest is occupied and to keep away, and that it also may provide a bit of camouflage.

Both father and mother are fiercely protective of their eaglets and are constantly looking for predators who are hoping to make a meal out of them. Predators include owls, foxes, bears, hawks, and more. Sadly, not all eaglets make it to adulthood; usually only 50% of them survive. Interestingly, the first-born ones have a better chance of living.

Because of the eagle's age in the video, he was probably becoming more independent and spending time on his own. Young eagles begin to learn to fly at around three months old and will leave the nest, though their parents are normally very close by. They also begin to practice hunting, looking for prey like jackrabbits, reptiles, and other birds.

I did a bit of research, and it looks like this guy is probably a Golden eagle, one of the fiercest raptors and predators in the Mohave Desert. Adults have a wingspan of up to seven feet across and travel long distances at one time to search for food. Golden eagles are federally protected by the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act of 1940. Hopefully this young guy will be able to be rehabilitated and released back into the wild so that he can start a family of his own someday!

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