Eagle with trap caught on claw needs help, says Clarenville man

The plight of a beautiful bald eagle is the talk of the town inClarenville, where residents are hoping the bird can be released from a trap attached to a claw.

Those who have seen themajestic bird, whichhas been hanging around the town dump,say some kind of trap is closed shut on a talon.

St John's Morning Show5:46Caught in a trap

Concern in Clarenville about an eagle with a trap caught on one of its claws

Harry White, anamateurphotographer, has been snapping photos of the eaglehoping to get help for the entangled bird.

"Just above where the trap is attached to the claw it looks like the flesh is torn," said White.

"You can see the trap that's actually attached to his centreclaw and it's prettywell rightwhere the talon goes into the claw."

He's comparedphotos taken around two weeks ago to his photos from Sunday, and said the eagle's beak looks damagedfrom trying to pry the trap from its claw.

White said the trap isn't very largeandlooks like one that would be set to catch mink.

"It's one of those spring-type traps that you force open, and once you press on the centre, itpops closed," he said.

He believes that the eaglemay have gotten more than he bargained for when he tried to eat whatever was caught in the trap.

The bird can stillfly, but White said there is a piece of wire hanging around threefeet from the trap.

He worries that if nothing is done, the trap willaffect thebird's healthand itsability to hunt.

On the lookout

Wildlife officials have been contacted and aClarenvilleconservation officer has been searching for the eagle. However, they have nothad any luck locating the bird.

Whitehas been doing his partby making extra visits to the dump.

Althoughhe'snot quite sure what can be done to help, heknowsofficers wouldhave to keeptheir distance from the powerful bird of prey and set up some sort of bait trap totry and net it.