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B.C. eagle lover 91Ƶdive bombed91Ƶ by bald eagle on Vancouver Island

Woman sustained injuries to her head in incident

It is going to take a lot more than just being dive bombed by a bald eagle to change Chelsea Cheeba91Ƶs mind about the creatures.

91ƵThe one person who loves eagles the most is attacked by one, but hey, what can I say? Love hurts,91Ƶ Cheeba said.

On May 20, Cheeba was walking towards the Campbell River Home Depot when she saw the eagle in question land in a nearby tree. She then did what she always does, grabbed her phone to take a few photos.

91ƵI stopped like I normally do and zoomed in on my camera. I took a few pictures. I walked away, and the eagle just dive bombed me and hit me good in the back of the head,91Ƶ Cheeba said. 91ƵThen I felt the back of my head with my left hand. I looked at my hand and it was covered in blood.91Ƶ

Cheeba was helped out by a bystander, who got Cheeba into the bystander91Ƶs car and took her to a store for first aid supplies. A member of Cheeba91Ƶs family then came to take her to the hospital.

91ƵI got checked out and I got a tetanus shot,91Ƶ she said. 91ƵIt was scary when it first happened, then afterwards when my mom was taking me to the hospital we just started laughing about it.91Ƶ

Cheeba thinks that the eagle likely had a nest nearby with some young and was just being protective. However, when she walks to work now she is 91Ƶalways watching.91Ƶ

91ƵWhen I walk by an eagle tree heading to work I91Ƶm thinking 91Ƶdon91Ƶt you attack me.91Ƶ91Ƶ

Bald eagles can grow to nearly a metre in height and can weigh over six kilograms.

91ƵThey don91Ƶt look that big when they91Ƶre in the sky flying, but when you get real close to them, oh yeah,91Ƶ Cheeba said. 91ƵIf the eagle really meant business it could have done more damage, that91Ƶs for sure.91Ƶ

Despite her ordeal, she says her love for the animals hasn91Ƶt changed, she would just prefer a bit more distance next time she sees one.

The Mirror has reached out to the MARS Wildlife Rescue Centre for a comment. This story will be updated with their response.

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marc.kitteringham@campbellrivermirror.com

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Marc Kitteringham

About the Author: Marc Kitteringham

I joined Black press in early 2020, writing about the environment, housing, local government and more.
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