Golden Eagle Saved from I-40 Chaos Soars Again at Arizona Raptor Center

In a remarkable rescue on July 11, a two-month-old golden eagle named Charlie found himself in a precarious situation on Interstate-40 in Mohave County. Sgt. Giralde, who was on an off-duty road construction detail, encountered the young eagle after construction workers alerted him about its dangerous proximity to traffic.

Witnesses noted that Charlie displayed unusual behavior, remaining unafraid as vehicles whizzed by, often lying on the asphalt. Concerned for the bird’s safety, Giralde contacted the Arizona Game and Fish, which directed him to the Arizona Raptor Center for assistance.

After receiving approval, Giralde was able to safely move Charlie to his squad car. Surprisingly, the eagle remained calm throughout the ordeal, eventually standing after a half-hour in the back seat.

Giralde expressed his fascination with the unexpected encounter, stating, “I have never encountered something like this before. It was an experience that I will not forget.”

The Arizona Raptor Center, an organization operated by volunteers, took Charlie to an 840-acre golden eagle hack site located in the Dragoon Mountains of Cochise County—marking it as the first of its kind in the nation.

Founder Jerry Ostwinkle described Charlie as a “lucky eagle.” He explained that young eagles, if not guided by their parents, can face dire circumstances. “This little guy got separated from his parents and wandered away,” Ostwinkle noted.

Charlie likely wandered on foot for several days, becoming dangerously underweight. When he arrived at the center, he was approximately two pounds lighter than ideal, perilously close to kidney failure.

Now nearing three months old, Charlie is expected to be released back into the wild soon. Meanwhile, he has quickly established himself among the other eagles at the hack site, exhibiting behavior that suggests he’s adapting well.

Ostwinkle described Charlie as the smallest in the group but remarked, “He’s taking over the whole roost,” showcasing a dominance that is essential for survival.

As an orphaned eagle, Charlie’s development involves learning crucial survival skills, including how to hunt and the dynamics of eagle interactions. Ostwinkle compared the learning process to that of pilots mastering aerial maneuvers.

The hack site provides a vital environment for injured and orphaned eagles to exercise and prepare for life in the wild. Once released, these eagles often remain close to their food sources and other eagles they’ve become familiar with.

Ostwinkle highlighted that the center helps the eagles not only learn to fly but also to scavenge from other birds, a skill necessary for their development as apex predators. The timeline for these lessons varies widely.

“When these eagles figure it out, they have no reason to come back,” Ostwinkle added. “Sometimes it takes them a year. Sometimes it takes them ten days.”

The Arizona Raptor Center is committed to the rehabilitation of birds of prey, including owls, hawks, falcons, and ospreys. By providing science-based education and resources, the center works towards conserving raptors and their habitats.