Officer Frees Bald Eagle With One Gunshot

A bald eagle owes its life to the sharpshooting skills of an Iowa conservation officer. Mr. Sandholdt, who works for the Iowa Department of Natural Resources, responded with state colleagues and county workers after the eagle was found hanging about 60 feet above the lake southeast of Des Moines, Iowa.

With binoculars, they could see that the bird appeared to have caught a single talon in a knothole in the branch when it landed. It hung from the talon, upside down.

Many in the group thought a mercy killing was the best option.

Mr. Sandholdt said he asked for a chance to free the bird with his rifle, figuring at best the bird would fall into the lake and have to be rescued for rehabilitation at a clinic.

No one is sure of the eagle's odds for survival.