A morning commute turned into a scene from a surreal film for a North Carolina driver when a bald eagle dropped a dead cat through her windscreen, shattering the glass on a busy highway.
The Unbelievable 911 Call
The incredulous woman, who was on her way to her banking job, immediately called emergency services. "You may not believe me, but I just had a bald eagle drop a cat through my windshield," she told the 911 dispatcher in a recorded call. The dispatcher, maintaining professional composure, responded with a laugh, "Okay, I do believe you, honestly. I've heard crazier." After confirming the driver's location on US Route 74 near Bryson City, the dispatcher arranged for the Highway Patrol to attend the scene.
Anatomy of a Bizarre Incident
The extraordinary event occurred on Wednesday around 8:15 am as the woman was travelling near the Tennessee-North Carolina border. She was driving at approximately 55 mph when the eagle released its unexpected cargo. A photograph of the aftermath revealed a massive hole consuming about a quarter of the passenger's side of the windscreen. A witness later reported to the Highway Patrol that they had seen an adult-sized cat fighting with the eagle mid-air before the fall, according to Trooper Kosal Thach.
In a moment of dark humour, the 911 dispatcher felt compelled to ask one more question: "Is the cat still alive?" The caller confirmed the cat was deceased and noted it had landed on the roadside, not inside her vehicle. Fortunately, the driver emerged physically unharmed, though her car was too damaged to drive and had to be towed.
Why Would an Eagle Drop Its Prey?
Kendrick Weeks, Western Wildlife Diversity Program supervisor for the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, provided expert insight into the eagle's behaviour. He suggested the cat was likely roadkill scavenged by the eagle, noting that scavenging is a common behaviour for bald eagles. While they are capable of taking live animals the size of a cat, he explained, "It is much harder for them to take a live cat than a dead cat."
Weeks added that eagles and other raptors can drop their prey for several reasons, including having a poor grip, if the prey is struggling, if they are being harassed by another bird, or if the load simply becomes too heavy to carry. This rare and shocking event serves as a stark reminder of the unpredictable encounters that can occur where human infrastructure and wild ecosystems meet.
