Beech Tree News Network

A bald eagle was spotted by two local men in Butler County on Tuesday, March 10. While checking for roadway flooding on Guy road just off Highway 231, Jaccob Lee and Craig Ayers of the Kentucky Highway Department spotted the national bird off the side of the road in a field. According to Lee, the eagle was trying to lift a possum but was struggling with the weight of the animal. Lee snapped several photos of the eagle, keeping a distance so he wouldn't disturb the bird.

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After the initial evaluation of Guy Road, Ayers and Lee left the scene. Some hours later while conducting an updated condition check on that same road, another worker reported that the eagle was still there.

Although the bald eagle was removed from the endangered species list in 2007, they are still protected under the Bald and Golden Eagle Act. According to the American Bald Eagle Information website, In recent years the number of nesting pairs of the bald eagle has increased from 450 in 1981 to an astounding 4,500 in the 1990's.

Although there are now and estimated 70,000 bald eagles in the world, about half of them live in Alaska.  The northwestern United States is the most notable for bald Eagles, as they flourish very well in that environment due to the abundance of salmon. It's quite a rare treat to spot one in this part of the country, especially right here in Butler County.  

Photos taken by Jaccob Lee