There are few if any more dedicated fan bases out there than those of the Philadelphia Eagles.
One particular Birds fan, however, took things to the next level recently when he rescued a literal eagle on the side of the highway.
@yooomvp Being an Eagles fan And Rescuing an Eagle might be the coolest shit i ever did lol #florida #eagles #philadelphiaeagles #saquonbarkley #wildlife #nature #animalrescue
TikTok user Ryan, who lives in Florida and goes by the handle @yoomvp, posted a video on Monday of himself stopping to rescue a seemingly injured eagle on the side of the road.
In the video, he shows the eagle sitting by the side of the road motionless, but fully conscious. The bird does not move when he approaches it and allows him to pick it up and place it into the passenger seat of his car.
Surprisingly, the bird sits calmly in his car while he reassures it that it’s “going to get the help you need” and “you’ll be back up there flying again.”
He then informs the bird that he intends to name it Saquon Barkley after Philadelphia’s superstar running back.
Ryan took the injured bird to the Raptor of Center of Tampa Bay where they attempted to diagnose and rehabilitate its injuries.
Sadly, the Raptor Center revealed on Tuesday afternoon that the bird suffered irreparable injuries.
“It is with profound regret that I must inform you that, despite concerted efforts, the Eagle’s injuries proved fatal,” they wrote. “Her fractures, included a femur fracture at the pelvis joint, a wing fracture, and a radial fracture. The femur was irreparable. Following consultations with experts from the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey, US Fish and Wildlife, Busch Gardens Animal Care Center, and Blue Pearl Veterinary Clinic, the collective decision was made to humanely euthanize the bird.
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, “Florida has one of the densest concentrations of nesting bald eagles in the lower 48 states, with an estimated 1,500 nesting pairs.”
Sadly, doctors could not save Saquon Barkley. But populations are on the rise in the state. And with additional conservation efforts, that number should only continue to rise in years to come.