A bald eagle bit off more than it could chew when it took on an octopus in a fight.
Salmon farmers from Mahatta West farm on Canada’s west coast had to step in and stage a rescue mission when they witnessed the ‘once in a lifetime’ incident on December 2.
The team were alerted to the rare situation when they heard screeching and splashing sounds from the water
After investigating the noise, they found ‘a full-sized eagle submerged in the water with a big giant octopus in the water trying to drag it down’.
At first, the group stood back and watched as the battle unfolded, reluctant to interfere in Mother Nature’s plan.
However, after five minutes they realised the bald eagle was likely to drown and decided to step in.
Fisherman John Ilett told CTV News that he used a pike pole to free the eagle from the grips of the octopus’ tentacles..
A video shows him latching onto the eight-limbed creature and giving it a tug to force it into releasing it’s grip.
The eagle is then seen escaping to shore with minimal injuries.
Ilett said: ‘We weren’t sure if we should interfere because it is mother nature, survival of the fittest.
‘But it was heart wrenching — to see this octopus was trying to drown this eagle.’
The salmon farmer revealed that he has been working on the water for 20 years, but this encounter with nature is his favourite.
However, not everyone was in support of the intervention.
Some people on social media believed the team should have left nature to run its course.
The fishermen involved stand by their decision though, with Ilett saying: ‘Am I at fault because I’m human and I felt compassion for the bird?
‘At the end of the day both animals are alive and well and they went their separate ways and we feel pretty good about what we did.’
