NYPD Rescues Injured Bald Eagle from Hudson River

Body camera footage shows officers saving the national bird from icy conditions

Published on Feb. 20, 2026

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New York City Police Department (NYPD) Harbor Unit officers rescued an injured bald eagle stranded on ice in the Hudson River. The officers used a catch pole to secure the eagle and transport it to an animal sanctuary for medical care.

Why it matters

The bald eagle, the national bird of the United States, has rebounded in parts of New York after being nearly extinct in the state decades ago, making rescues and successful rehabilitation efforts notable for conservation and wildlife management.

The details

NYPD Harbor Unit officers spotted the injured bald eagle during a patrol around 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday. Body camera footage shows the officers' vessel pulling up to the eagle, which was standing on a floating block of ice in the river with the George Washington Bridge in the background. The officers used a catch pole to secure the eagle before pulling it to safety and taking it aboard the vessel.

  • The rescue occurred on Tuesday morning around 9:30 a.m.

The players

NYPD Harbor Unit

The police department's specialized unit that patrols the city's waterways, including the Hudson River.

Bald Eagle

The national bird of the United States, which has seen a resurgence in New York after being nearly extinct in the state decades ago.

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What they’re saying

“Eagle-eyed cops to the rescue. While patrolling the Hudson River earlier this morning, our Harbor Unit officers spotted an injured bald eagle floating on the ice and calling out for help. They acted quickly and brought the bird to safety.”

— NYPD News (X)

“The bald eagle is an Endangered Species Act success story. In the mid-1900s, our national symbol was in danger of extinction throughout most of its range. Bald eagles were decimated by habitat destruction and degradation, as well as illegal shooting and the contamination of their food source by the insecticide dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, known as DDT.”

— U.S. Fish and Wildlife (Website)

What’s next

Officials had not released information on the eagle's medical condition or prognosis following transport to a sanctuary.

The takeaway

This rescue highlights the ongoing efforts to protect and conserve the bald eagle population in New York, which has rebounded after the species was once threatened with extinction in the state.