NYPD officers brave icy weather to save injured Bald Eagle trapped in Hudson River

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The New York Police Department’s Harbor Unit is receiving accolades for saving an injured Bald Eagle that became stuck on ice in the Hudson River.

Bald eagles are the national bird of the United States. These magnificent birds, with wings that can stretch up to seven feet, are carefully protected, and they typically build their nests near lakes and rivers where they can easily find fish to eat.

I was so sad to hear about this! Apparently, someone spotted a Bald Eagle – a real Bald Eagle! – just floating on a big piece of ice in the Hudson River. It’s amazing to see them around here in New York, but heartbreaking to think about it being in that situation.

On Tuesday, February 17th, at 9:30 AM, officers from the NYPD’s Harbor Unit – a team that patrols the city’s waterways – spotted something unusual.

Injured eagle in intensive care after NYPD officer rescue

The officers responded swiftly, using a boat to approach the eagle. They carefully caught it with a pole, brought it onto the boat, and wrapped it in a warm blanket before moving it into a secure animal carrier.

Okay, so the Harbor Unit guys said they spotted some blood on one of the eagle’s claws when they rescued it. And when I watched the rescue video, I noticed a mark right above its right eye. It looked pretty rough, honestly.

Police turned the injured eagle over to Raptor Trust, a nearby wildlife sanctuary specializing in birds of prey, so it could receive care and recover.

Okay, so this is pretty cool. I was reading the news and apparently the Harbor Unit cops were patrolling the Hudson River this morning and spotted a bald eagle in trouble! It was floating on the ice and actually seemed to be calling for help – can you believe it? They jumped into action and rescued the poor thing. Seriously, good on them!

— NYPD NEWS (@NYPDnews) February 17, 2026

Raptor Trust announced that the eagle they rescued is receiving intensive care at their facility. They shared that the eagle is quite old, noting that Bald Eagles typically live 15 to 20 years in the wild, though some have lived as long as 38 years.

Bald Eagles are commonly spotted on the Hudson River this time of year. They frequently migrate here for the winter to fish, and the largest numbers are usually seen in January and February.

A recent animal rescue is getting a lot of attention online. A 410-pound manatee was rescued from a storm drain in Florida and is now recovering at SeaWorld Orlando.

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2026-02-18 22:49