Lancaster County man rescues eagle injured on Route 30 near Downingtown: ‘She just hung out with me’

By COLIN EVANS, LNP Lancaster Online

A Gordonville man said he had no fears rescuing an injured bald eagle on the Route 30 bypass near Downingtown Saturday afternoon.

Dandon Miller, 34, was driving westbound on his motorcycle when he noticed traffic had come to a halt, he said.

Parking his bike on the side of the highway, Miller noticed that the injured eagle was blocking cars in the middle of the road.

Miller immediately approached the bird, wrapped his flannel shirt around her, and held her in his arms, he said.

“I didn’t really think too much about it. I walked over and picked her up. She was just fine … she just hung out with me,” he said.

Miller, who works in metal sales, said the eagle was calm for the 45 minutes he held her until staff from the Delaware-based Tri-State Bird Rescue & Research arrived to take her.

“It was an amazing feeling, to be able to pick up a bald eagle,” he said. “It’s a massive creature you never imagine being able to hold in your hands or being able to help out.”

The bird had injuries to its feet, one wing, and its eye, according to a statement from Tri-State, reported by 6abc Action News. It had been struck by a vehicle, the television station reported.

The rescue organization is treating it with antibiotics, pain medication, and fluids. It was optimistic about the eagle’s release depending on how the wing injury heals, according to the statement it issued to the television station.

LNP was not able to reach the rescue group for further comment.