ANCHORAGE, Alaska, Jan. 13 (UPI) -- Officials at Alaska's Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge say dozens of bald eagles are recovering after being rescued from a pile of fish guts.
Refuge manager Gary Wheeler said the majestic birds, which were among nearly 50 hungry eagles that mobbed a truck full of fish remains, appeared to be recovering nicely, the Anchorage Daily News reported Sunday.
"We were pleasantly surprised this morning that the vast majority of the birds perked up overnight," Wheeler said Saturday.
An estimated 20 eagles, which are protected under federal law, died in Friday's incident. Nearly 30 more birds became soaked in the mad race for the fish remains and appeared to be too exhausted to fly away.
Wheeler said the surviving eagles have since been cleaned and allowed to recuperate in a local warehouse.
The Daily News said while the animals await their release into the wild, U.S. Fish and Wildlife investigators are set to investigate the incident.
