PSE rescues stuck juvenile bald eagle

Puget Sound Energy (PSE) workers removed a juvenile bald eagle stuck by its talon in a utility line on West Road near Peace Portal Drive on January 28. The eagle appeared to be uninjured and flew away once workers freed its talon.

PSE’s avian protection manager Mel Walters heard about the bird midday Tuesday and called to have several PSE servicemen respond at the site. He also called Whatcom Humane Society’s Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, which sent someone to the site in case the bird was injured.

Workers turned power off briefly while removing the bird. The bird didn’t get electrocuted because it wasn’t touching two power lines, creating a complete circuit. Even with the power off, PSE workers used insulated poles called “hot sticks” to free the bird.

PSE treats these cases seriously and responds immediately, said Walters, who has led the company’s avian protection program for 20 years. Among other things, that program retrofits old lines and designs new lines that are safer to birds and squirrels.

One danger with stuck birds is that citizens will get involved in trying to free the bird, Walters said.

“A few days ago I was alarmed because there was a similar story on Facebook and a person approached the bird and was going to use a pole to try to free it,” Walters said. “With a live wire, you’re a path to the ground, so you can be electrocuted and those wires could be carrying 12,000 volts,” which is enough to kill.