Happy Halloween, Beacon readers! Whether you’re dressing up and going out or staying in to hand out candy, I hope it’s a good one. Before the festivities begin, I’ve got a story that’s no trick and all treat.
Glacier High School freshman Emma Reynolds, 14, was sitting on the deck of her family’s home on Ashley Lake in early June, watching two eagles soar over the water. Flying in sync, they dove into the water in pursuit of fish. But only one of them rose.
Emma ran to her mother, Kathryn Reynolds, and asked if eagles can swim. Her mother assured her they couldn’t. The eagle could drown.
I’m Katie Bartlett, bringing you a happy ending — and today’s Daily Roundup.
An animal lover who plans to pursue a career as a veterinary technician, Emma (pictured above) immediately jumped in her kayak and started paddling to the middle of the lake, where the eagle was splashing around in the water.
At first, the young bird thrashed and tried to move away from the kayak. Emma reached out with her paddle, hoping to lift it aboard. But the eagle was too heavy — juvenile bald eagles average around 10 pounds — and the weight dragged the paddle down.
She didn’t hesitate. Reaching down, she pulled the struggling bird out of the water.
“I was afraid it was going to attack me,” she said. “But it seemed to realize I was trying to help, and just kind of let me pick it up.”
By now, the Reynolds’ neighbors had noticed what was happening. A small crowd gathered along the shore, snapping photos of the drenched eagle perched on the kayak.
Emma paddled back to land, and the bird hopped out of the kayak and shuffled toward a nearby stump. After about ten minutes of rest, it took off, circling the shoreline before disappearing from sight. That was the last time Reynolds saw the bird.
Videos of the rescue quickly made their way around the Ashley Lake Facebook group. Because of the video quality (a grainy still image from the video is pictured above), some assumed the rescuer was a man.
“Dude, you rescued our national bird,” one neighbor commented. “That was so badass.”
When she’s not rescuing eagles, Emma enjoys riding her family’s horses and spending time with the goats they raise on their hobby farm in Kalispell. She even spent her summer incubating chicks.
When asked whether she’d save the eagle again, Emma didn’t hesitate.
“Definitely,” she said.
And now, let’s check out the rest of today’s daily roundup.
From ‘Nebraska’ to Whitefish: The Man Behind Springsteen’s Sound
As the Springsteen biopic "Deliver Me from Nowhere" hits screens, Whitefish sound engineer Toby Scott looks back on decades in the studio with the Boss
Victim’s Relatives Describe Aftermath of Alleged Hit-and-Run
On the fourth day of Kenneth James Floyd’s negligent homicide trial in Flathead County, the victim’s sister described a phone conversation in which the defendant claimed responsibility for the hit-and-run death of Kimberly Gilham
Spooky Science Experiment Takes Center Stage at St. Matthew’s
Students received a demonstration from senior cryogenics engineer David Petrick, who launched several bottle rockets and garbage cans and exploded pumpkins. Petrick said he hopes to get children interested in science through the hands-on experience.
Montana Shakespeare in the Parks is excited to partner with the Wachholz College Center to present “Richard III” to audiences in Kalispell. This 80-minute production follows the rise of one of Shakespeare’s most notorious villains as he charms, manipulates and murders his way onto the English throne. This production is free and open to the public as part of the 33rd season of the Montana Shakespeare in the Schools program, and it will be followed by a 20-minute talk-back with the company.
Celebrated humorist and New York Times bestselling author David Sedaris returns to the Wachholz on Nov. 12. Sedaris is a master of satire and one of today’s most observant writers. Beloved for his personal essays and short stories, David Sedaris is the author of the New York Times bestsellers “Barrel Fever,” “Holidays on Ice,” “Naked,” “Me Talk Pretty One Day,” and more. Sedaris has been nominated for five Grammy Awards for Best Spoken Word and Best Comedy Album. Join FVCC Nov. 12 for an evening of wit and wisdom!
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