Bald Eagle Rescued From Ice Chunk in Hudson River

New York City police officers save injured bird and take it to rehabilitation center.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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New York City police officers rescued a bald eagle that was found marooned on an ice chunk in the Hudson River. The injured bird was taken to a rehabilitation center in New Jersey where it is receiving treatment for its condition.

Why it matters

Bald eagles have made a remarkable comeback in New York and across the United States after being nearly wiped out in the mid-20th century. This rescue highlights the ongoing efforts to protect and conserve the national bird, which is now a common sight along the Hudson River.

The details

Officers from the NYPD Harbor Unit spotted the injured bald eagle on a chunk of ice in the Hudson River near the George Washington Bridge. They carefully used a catch pole to secure the bird and bring it onto their boat. The eagle appeared to be ill or poisoned, as it was not aggressively fighting the rescue. The officers transported the eagle to a wildlife rehabilitation center in New Jersey for further care and treatment.

  • On Tuesday morning, the NYPD officers spotted the eagle on the ice chunk.
  • The officers rescued the eagle and transported it to the rehabilitation center on Tuesday.

The players

Officer Michael Russo

A 16-year veteran of the NYPD Harbor Unit who led the eagle rescue.

Raptor Trust

A wild bird rehabilitation center in Millington, New Jersey where the injured eagle was taken.

Christopher D. Soucy

The executive director of the Raptor Trust, which is providing care for the eagle.

Kevin J. McGowan

An ornithologist at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology who provided expert analysis on the eagle's condition.

Dustin Partridge

The director of conservation and science at the NYC Bird Alliance, who commented on the bald eagle population in New York.

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What they’re saying

“Something was definitely wrong. It was definitely doing a cry for help.”

— Officer Michael Russo (nytimes.com)

“All right, buddy, we got ya.”

— NYPD Officer (nytimes.com)

“No wild animal would allow you to just put a noose around its chest. That bird was not well.”

— Kevin J. McGowan, Ornithologist, Cornell Lab of Ornithology (nytimes.com)

“We are doing our best to keep the bird stable, and should it improve, we will do further diagnostics, X-rays and bloodwork to help determine a course of action going forward. At this time, we are providing appropriate supportive care in the hopes that we can stabilize the patient for further treatment.”

— Christopher D. Soucy, Executive Director, Raptor Trust (nytimes.com)

What’s next

The Raptor Trust is working to stabilize the eagle's condition, and if it improves, they will conduct further medical tests to determine the best course of treatment.

The takeaway

This rescue highlights the ongoing conservation efforts to protect bald eagles, which have made a remarkable comeback in New York and across the country after being nearly wiped out in the mid-20th century. The Hudson River has become an important habitat for these majestic birds.