Death of an eagle

Bob CollinsBob Collins Jul 17, 2013
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Two bald eagles crash landed on a runway at the Duluth International Airport on Sunday, May 12, 2013. Minnesota DNR officer Randy Hanzal said the eagles, locked together by their talons in a midair territorial dispute, couldn't separate but survived the fall. (AP Photo/Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Randy Hanzal)

For all the symbolism our national bird embodies, it can be a pretty delicate bird.

The Duluth News Tribune reports the bald eagle that was rescued after crashing onto a tarmac at the Duluth airport has been found dead. In the May incident, it and another eagle got their talons tangled.

Mike Schrage, wildlife biologist for the Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, says the eagle was found Monday near U.S. Highway 2 bridge over the St. Louis River near Brookston.

This time the death was completely the fault of humans. The bird got tangled in old fishing line.

“It’s too bad,” Schrage told the paper. “I’ve seen this before with other birds — herons and others. Fishermen, be careful and pick up your fishing line. It can last a long time, and it can be a killer.”