Salmon farmers were able to save a bald eagle locked in a battle of survival with an octopus.
The group was about to return to their float house when they heard screaming and splashing sounds according to salmon farmer John Ilett in an interview in Canadian Broadcasting Corporation.
According to Ilett, the team discovered a full-sized eagle floating on the water surface with its wings spread with the tentacles of what appears to be a giant Pacific octopus wrapped around the eagle, apparently trying to drown it.
"We [were uncertain] if we should [meddle] because it is mother nature, the survival of the fittest," Ilett said. "But it was heart-wrenching to [observe] this octopus [trying] to drown this eagle," Ilett added.
Ilett and his team concluded they had to do something. One of the salmon farmers reached out a pole with a small hook attached to it to lift the octopus off of the eagle while another co-worker started recording after getting close to the battle.
"I was able [just to give it] a little tug," Ilett said. "[The octopus] released its grip, which [allowed] the eagle barely enough time to get to shore," he added.
The octopus swam away unharmed after the encounter, while the eagle recovered on a nearby branch for a few minutes before flying away.
Rescuing an Eagle from an Ocotpus Our staff at our Mahatta West farm in Quatsino rescued an eagle that had bitten off more than it could chew when it tried to catch an octopus. They are used to seeing the wonders of nature around them on a regular basis, but they knew that this was a once in a lifetime experience. The octopus swam away unharmed and the eagle recovered on a branch for around 10 minutes before it flew away. Posted by Mowi Canada West on Wednesday, December 11, 2019
Ilett has been working on the water for about 20 years and admits he has seen incredible things in the line of his work. The salmon farmer added that the recent encounter they had ranks as the "coolest" to date.
"The [situation] like this [is the reason] why I love my [work] and being out in the [setting] where I can work and live," he said. "It's just [astonishing]," he added.
'I felt pity for the bird'
Ilett was able to read comments on social media, debating whether or not his team should have meddled over the situation. He said it's a "different reaction" when you're watching the circumstance unfold right in front of your own eyes.
"Am I at fault because I'm human and felt [pity] for the bird?" he said. He added both animals are alive and well, and at the end of the day, both animals and the team felt relieved about what they did.
The US withdrew bald eagles from their list of endangered and threatened species in 2007, but the birds remain protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, and the Lacey Act. Anyone harming one eagle could face up to two years in prison and a $250,000 fine, according to MBTA.
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