PULASKI COUNTY, Mo. — Migrating eagles are flocking to Missouri as they head south for the winter.
While there are numerous areas around the state to stand and witness the peak viewing season for eagles, some unlucky drivers along Missouri's interstates see the eagles on the road right before they hit them.
One such incident happened recently in Pulaski County, according to the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC). An eagle was reportedly landing to feed on a roadkill deer when it was hit and killed by a driver.
Eagles being hit by cars is uncommon in southern Missouri, but not as rare as some may think. MDC officials told 5 On Your Side that around 12 eagles are hit every year in Missouri's Ozark region, with the majority being hit during the winter as eagles migrate.
The birds are known to prey on mammals, fish and other birds, but will also feast on roadkill for an easy meal.
"Fish and carrion make up most of [eagles'] diet, but reptiles, amphibians, small mammals, other birds, and large invertebrates such as crayfish are also eaten," MDC's website said.
If drivers happen to get unlucky and hit the protected birds, MDC officials said it would not be considered a crime. However, trying to pick the eagle up and keep it would be a crime. The best thing to do would be to contact the local sheriff's department, which will in turn contact the appropriate MDC agent.
If the eagle is mostly intact and its feathers are undamaged, MDC officials will donate the eagle to the National Eagle Repository in Colorado. There, U.S. Fish and Wildlife officials collect and distribute dead golden and bald eagles to Native American and Alaskan Native tribes throughout the nation.
Want to see eagles without the risk of running them over? Click here to see MDC's list of winter eagle viewing areas in Missouri.
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