I received an email the other day containing remarkable pictures taken in January 2010 of Bald Eagles being fed by some well-meaning people. A year ago this month, the weather conditions in St. Louis, Missouri and Alton, Illinois was very cold and frigid. So much so that our nation's symbol was having a hard time locating its favorite food, fish. In an effort to help the eagles fend off hunger, good samaritans gathered up fish and fed the eagles. Soon the eagles, which normally are skittish in nature, did not mind being in such close proximity to the people feeding them. As a result the following amazing photographs were taken.
This is a wonderful story of people helping out animals instead of trying to get rid of them. However, I can not help but wonder what the ramifications were, if any. Did the eagles come back this year looking for a free hand out? Were the eagles cured of their skittish attitude toward humans and therefore didn't mind letting people get close? How many of these eagles were poached as a result of loosing their innate behavior to flee people?
Don't get me wrong, this is an amazing and feel good story. I just can't help wonder if in the end, the good deed ended up causing harm to these majestic birds of prey.
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