Employees at a fish farm on Vancouver Island recently rescued a bald eagle that was ensnared in the tentacles of an octopus that was trying to devour the majestic bird. Upon hearing shrieks from the water, the employees moved to investigate the source of the sound, leading them to an intense battle between the two animals.
The fisherman found the giant Pacific octopus strangulating the bird with its tentacles, rendering the eagle helpless. The men then intervened with a pole, bringing both animals on board the boat, disentangling them, and returning them to their respective natural habitats. “At first we just watched and we didn’t know if we should interfere because, you know, it’s Mother Nature,” John Ilett, an employee at Mowi West Canada, explained to a local news station.
Jennifer Mather, an octopus expert at the University of Lethbridge joked, “He deprived the poor octopus of a good meal.” She added, “They’re quite wide in their prey choice,” citing another recent incident on Vancouver Island where an octopus ate a seagull. “If something is on the surface of the water, and the octopus is close to the surface of the water, it’s food,” she noted.
Sharing the video on X, the popular account Nature is Amazing wrote, “Fish farm workers in Canada rescue a bald eagle locked in a battle for survival with an octopus.” The post displaying the brutal yet amazing aspect of nature garnered numerous responses. “The eagle must have tried to grab the octopus 🐙 ; bad idea! Last summer I saw an eagle fly right of front of me with a flopping fish in its talons. It was so close I could hear the fish flopping 🐟!” one person wrote.
Commenting an interesting fact about Bald Eagles, one user wrote, “Did you know: Bald eagles are built to withstand harsh weather, including heavy rain. Their feathers are coated with a natural oil that makes them water-resistant, allowing rain to roll off while keeping their down feathers dry and insulating them from the cold. They often remain perched during storms, conserving energy and waiting for the weather to clear.”
However, some voiced the opinion that man should not interject when nature is unfolding before them in such a way. “Technically, this is illegal. You are not supposed to interfere with nature doing what nature does. Animals eat each other. It is the octopus right to eat just as much as the eagles’ right to live. Should have let it play out,” another comment read.
Still, some maintained support for the employees who chose to intervene and save the bald eagle. Another person said, “Nature’s dance can be fierce. While eagles are skilled hunters, octopi are brilliant strategists. I’m grateful the workers intervened – both creatures play vital roles in their ecosystems. Have you witnessed unexpected wildlife encounters?”
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Another user explained how common bald eagles are in Canada while noting they also engage in their fair share of predatory behavior toward other animals. “Fun fact: Canada has tons of eagles! Even in downtown Toronto, there are so many that we lose a lot of pets to them. Cats and small dogs just get carried away and eaten,” they said.
Watch the incident below:
Note: The featured image is a screenshot from the embedded video.