520 bridge’s ‘Eddie the eagle’ has died
Aug 2, 2011, 11:29 AM | Updated: Oct 10, 2012, 7:28 am
'Eddie the eagle,' a guardian of the 520 bridge, was struck and killed by a bus Tuesday morning. (@BridgeEagle)
(@BridgeEagle)
‘Eddie the eagle,’ a guardian of the 520 bridge, was struck and killed by a bus Tuesday morning.
Bill Hebner, spokesperson with the Department of Fish and Wildlife, says the cause of death isn’t totally clear, but he may have been eating something off the road when he was struck.
“Oftentimes, eagles will see deer or they’ll see small mammals that have been hit by cars along side of the road and they’ll swoop down to feed on them. They’re susceptible of being hit by a car,” Hebner said. “My guess is that’s what happened this morning.”
Hebner said the eagle is believed to be the male of a pair that nests at the nearby Broadmoor Golf Course in Seattle. Eddie was often spotted perched on one of the bridge’s light poles.
The carcass has been turned over to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and then it’ll go to a federal repository near Denver.
“His feathers will be placed in that eagle feather repository and they’re distributed to Native American tribes for ceremonial purposes,” he said.
The Broadmoor nest has been productive, and Hebner said any eagles born there this year have likely already fledged and become independent.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
