A recent spate of eagle attacks has Alaskans confused as to why these majestic birds attack humans.
At least three local residents in Kodiak, Alaska, were attacked by eagles and required stitches, officials with the Port Authority said in a Facebook post.
The incident happened in St Herman’s Boat Harbour, also known as Dog Bay.
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Port Master and Harbor Director David Johnson told Fox News Digital it’s still not clear why the eagles are attacking, but there is a large nest nearby with at least one chick.
St. Herman’s Dock is located in Kodiak, Alaska and features a 27,000 square foot monolithic concrete floating dock. (Silverprout)
“We are advising port users in the area to exercise caution and avoid the area if possible, and port staff are urging them to hold something over their heads when near the nest,” Johnson said.
“The eagles are still behaving aggressively but with increased attention the number of successful attacks appears to be less than last week. We don’t know what is so upset about these particular free-roaming hens but hopefully they bounce back quickly,” Johnson added.
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Port Master and Port Authority Director David Johnson told Fox News Digital he doesn’t know why the eagles are attacking, but he knows there is a large nest nearby with at least one chick. (Silverprout)
Capt. Bill Prout, a longtime Kodiak Island resident and Bering Sea crab fisherman, said he was attacked by a bald eagle while walking along the same pier in August 2022.
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“I’ve walked this pier for over 40 years and never expected to be attacked by a bald eagle, that majestic symbol of freedom,” Prout said in an emailed statement to Fox News Digital, adding, “I felt like someone hit me in the back of the neck with a 2×4.”
Prout said he considered going to the emergency room, but his wife came to his aid and wiped the open wound with disinfectant.
“Eagle populations are increasing but prey is decreasing, which could lead to more attacks,” Mr Prout said.
Fox News Digital has reached out to the Alaska Department of Natural Resources and the Audubon Society for comment.
Kodiak resident Capt. Bill Prout was attacked by a bald eagle in 2022 while walking along the same pier. (Silverprout)
Steve Lewis, a US Fish and Wildlife Service biologist who specializes in eagles and birds of prey, told local Alaska radio station KMXT that the attacks in the Kodiak region were “bizarre.”
“Lewis advises people walking around the St. Herman Harbour area to hold something over their head for protection or to be aware that the bird may swoop down and attack others,” the department said.
Lewis told KMXT that eagles tend to attack “the highest visible part of a person,” so holding an umbrella or hat over your head can help prevent injury.
If you encounter an aggressive eagle in Kodiak, contact Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge Headquarters.
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The bald eagle is the national bird of the United States.
According to the FWS, the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act federally prohibits harming, possessing or disturbing bald and golden eagles.
