Entangled eagles get a hand from Hennepin County sheriff's deputies

Both eagles flew away after deputies freed them.

April 2, 2020 at 1:20AM
A screengrab from body camera video of the entangled eagles found near Greenfield.
A screengrab from body camera video of the entangled eagles found near Greenfield. (Vince Tuss/The Minnesota Star Tribune)

A pair of bald eagles grappled in the skies above Greenfield Tuesday night before becoming entangled and falling to the ground. Staff from the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office had to set them free.

Residents in Greenfield, which is in the northwestern part of the county near Rockford, reported the midair tussle around 7 p.m. Tuesday. The birds were entangled for nearly an hour before Deputy Matthew Petrone and crime scene investigator Sarah Peck arrived and separated them.

Both eagles flew away afterward.

"Everyone at the Hennepin County Sheriff's Office was very excited to hear about the successful rescue of these beautiful animals," Sheriff David Hutchinson said in a statement. "This is one of those stories that proves that even in challenging times, we are still there to help, people and animals alike."

You can watch highlights of the rescue effort, taken from body camera video, here:

about the writer

about the writer

Ryan Faircloth

Politics and government reporter

Ryan Faircloth covers Minnesota politics and government for the Star Tribune.

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