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Nic Name · 01-23-2002, 08:13 PM

Bald eagle frustrates wildlife officials

Football-loving eagle has swooped down and attacked New Hampshire beach-goers, wildlife officials can't catch capture

By Lori Ayotte
Associated Press — Aug. 22

HAMPTON BEACH, N.H. — A bald eagle that has been chasing after balls and annoying beachgoers since last week has eluded a flock of wildlife officials.

The eagle, which has a 6-foot wingspan and was released into the wild from a North Carolina wildlife reserve, has been menacing people since Friday, Aug. 17. On Sunday, it slightly injured a girl and two adults.

“ It' s not acting like an eagle, it's acting like a pigeon ”
— Eric Orff, wildlife biologist

On Tuesday, the eagle swooped down and clawed a 3-year-old girl on the back. Kayla Finn of Albany, N.Y., was running down the beach near two other children playing football. Her father brushed away the bird. She did not require medical attention.

"Other beaches have sharks, but at Hampton, we had to be different," said Peter MacKinnon, the town' s animal control officer. " We had to get an attack eagle."

01-23-2002, 08:13 PM	#13
Nic Name retired Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 1,930	Bald eagle frustrates wildlife officials Football-loving eagle has swooped down and attacked New Hampshire beach-goers, wildlife officials can't catch capture By Lori Ayotte Associated Press — Aug. 22 HAMPTON BEACH, N.H. — A bald eagle that has been chasing after balls and annoying beachgoers since last week has eluded a flock of wildlife officials. The eagle, which has a 6-foot wingspan and was released into the wild from a North Carolina wildlife reserve, has been menacing people since Friday, Aug. 17. On Sunday, it slightly injured a girl and two adults. “ It' s not acting like an eagle, it's acting like a pigeon ” — Eric Orff, wildlife biologist On Tuesday, the eagle swooped down and clawed a 3-year-old girl on the back. Kayla Finn of Albany, N.Y., was running down the beach near two other children playing football. Her father brushed away the bird. She did not require medical attention. "Other beaches have sharks, but at Hampton, we had to be different," said Peter MacKinnon, the town' s animal control officer. " We had to get an attack eagle." Last edited by Nic Name; 01-23-2002 at 08:31 PM.