Harriet the eagle, famous for visiting veterans, dies at 35
Harriet, the famous eagle ambassador who often visited wounded veterans, has died at 35.
The famous bird was rescued in 2000 after being struck by a vehicle and left on the side of a Minnesota road. She eventually landed in the care of biologist Ron Eckstein, who recognized the band he'd placed on her leg 17 years before.
Ultimately, Harriet's left wing was amputated, leaving her unable to fly. That injury, which prevented her from re-release, led to her next gig: a professional eagle ambassador for the National Eagle Center.
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Harriet got her name from an essay contest, in which Minnesota students were asked to pitch an important historical figure after whom the bird could be named. A first-grader suggested Harriet Tubman.
During her long career, Harriet made frequent visits to the Veterans Affairs Hospital in Minneapolis to meet with veterans suffering from life-altering injuries. Fans recognized her by her tufted head, the result of a cranial injury.
She also made TV appearances on Today and The Tonight Show.
Harriet retired last year. Since then, she'd suffered from arthritis and complications from her past injuries. She was euthanized on Wednesday at the University of Minnesota's Raptor Center.
“We believe the kindest thing to do was to keep her from a painful end and let her die peacefully in expert care,” National Eagle Center executive director Rolf Thompson said in a press release.
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Topics Animals
Chloe was the shopping editor at Mashable. She was also previously a culture reporter. You can follow her on Twitter at @chloebryan.
