In Michigan's Upper Peninsula, four bald eagles have been killed in separate vehicle collisions. The first incident occurred last Monday in Luce County, where an eagle was struck while feeding on a deer carcass along M-28, according to WZZM13.
Kristie Sitar, a Michigan DNR biologist, said, "Ravens can get out of the way easily, but eagles are much bigger, and it often takes them five or more wing strokes to get out of the way of oncoming traffic." To help prevent these accidents, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources is working to move deer carcasses further from the road.
There are about 800 bald eagle pairs, speeding on roads like M-28 and US Highway 2 is a danger to the birds. With a 65 mph speed limit, drivers are encouraged to slow down to avoid collisions. As Sitar said, "I think the biggest thing that the public can do is to slow down." A female eagle, banded 20 years ago, was found paralyzed after being hit by a car and could not be saved. Conservationists ask the public to slow down near eagles, stay alert, and report any accidents to the DNR at 800-292-7800, as stated by WZZM13.
