Crews rescued an injured Bald Eagle found lying along the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority rail line Wednesday afternoon. According to Metro’s Twitter account, the eagle was found near Morgan Boulevard, and train traffic was shifted in order to coordinate the rescue operation.
“We are currently single tracking on the Blue/Silver lines as appropriate animal resources respond to an apparently injured bald eagle on the tracks near Morgan Boulevard,” the railroad tweeted.
Both Blue Line and Silver Line trains were affected. According to Metro, Silver Line trains were rerouted to New Carrollton, Md., rather than Largo, Md., while wildlife personnel were en route. When animal control personnel arrived, they were taken by train to the area where the eagle lay injured.
The rescue team of eight people recovered the eagle just before 4 p.m. Wednesday, and it was turned over to City Wildlife in Washington, D.C. By 4:05 p.m., train traffic was being restored on all tracks and in both directions.
Metro also offered credits to qualifying riders affected by the delays caused by the eagle rescue.
Sadly, not a happy final result:
“The bird had multiple fractures to its right wing that couldn’t be repaired, said Jim Monsma, executive director of City Wildlife, a rescue group that helped to rescue and examine the bird.
After the exam and X-rays, the “opinion of the experts is unanimous and sad,” he said. “Humane euthanasia is the only responsible option.””
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/injured-bald-eagle-rescued-from-metrorail-tracks-is-euthanized/2019/03/14/58bb383a-467a-11e9-8aab-95b8d80a1e4f_story.html