Bald eagle power line rescue caught on video by BC Hydro crews
Lineman handed a net and told to "avoid beak and talons at all costs"
A bald eagle stuck on a power line in Ladner, B.C. has received some welcome help from a BC Hydro crew, who released a video of the entire rescue on YouTube on Monday.
According to BC Hydro, the crew arrived at Eagle View Farm back on January 19, only to find a young male bald eagle, whose talons were tangled in the line.
On mobile? Click here to see the bald eagle trapped on the power line
Members of the Orphaned Wildlife Rehabilitation Society were standing by as as the crew de-energized the live line and grounded it.
"Whatever you do, just grab his leg." an OWL representative told Hydro technician Bruce Byrnell before handing him a net and gloves.
"Don't reach for the talons or he'll latch on and not let go. Avoid the beak and talons at all costs."
Byrnell says it wasn't easy getting the tired bird off the line and into his net.
The eagle spent some time flapping around, so Byrnell says he decided to wait until it was reacting calmly to his approach.
"He seemed to just calm down when he realized I wasn't a danger; I wasn't a threat," Byrnell said, describing how he finally caught the bird.
"I just went slowly, tried to call him; tell him it's OK. It's OK."
On mobile? Click here to see the bald eagle being rescued
BC Hydro says the bird was likely on the line for about two hours and suffered injuries including a flash-burn on his leg.
When he first arrived at OWL the eagle could only lie on its belly with its feet out.
However, a week later the bird was standing on its own and is now expected to make a full recovery.
OWL has nicknamed the lucky eagle Flash.