Attack on a toddler
According to NRK, an eagle attacked a 20-month-old girl in Orkland, Norway, while she was playing in her yard. The girl's mother intervened and had to fight the eagle, with help from a neighbor, to free her child. The girl suffered minor injuries, including a few stitches on her head and scratches on her face, but is recovering well. The incident was highly traumatic for the family, especially the mother and the girl's siblings, who witnessed the attack. The family now seeks privacy to cope with the event.
The eagle attacked the young girl by striking her neck, back, and near eye, treating her like prey. Per Kåre Vinterdal, a local wildlife official, arrived later and euthanized the eagle after paramedics had started treating the child. The girl’s mother initially pushed the eagle away, but it kept returning to attack. A neighbor eventually intervened and hit the eagle to fend it off. Despite these efforts, the eagle nearly struck the girl again, coming within centimeters of her eye.
The police were informed by the Emergency Service (AMK) that a girl had been attacked by an eagle, but her injuries did not seem serious. She was still sent to the hospital by ambulance. The police then contacted Viltnemda, the local wildlife management authority. According to Per Kåre Vinterdal, the eagle involved in the attack was young. Read the source.
Four attacks on humans recently
NRK also reports on more attacks on humans in Norway. Eagle attack on human is unusual, however there were golden eagle attacks in five days four different locations in Norway, that according to ornithologist shows a completely abnormal behavior. Read more here
Reindeer herders' one of the main challenges
But reindeer herders in all over Arctic region have been struggling with the heavy eagle attacks on new born reindeer for many years, and they are frustrated that they have not been heard. Just recent spring in 2024 a young reindeer herder Risten Inga Eira from the Gielas reindeer grazing district in Troms was devasted after a series of eagle attacks resulted in the deaths of all her newborn reindeer calves. Despite round-the-clock herding and other preventative measures, the eagles have continued to prey on the calves, exacerbating the problem as the predator population, including eagles, wolverines, and lynx, has increased. Eira was calling on the authorities to take action and reduce the eagle population, as the current measures and research are insufficient. The Norwegian Environment Agency acknowledges the need for more research but currently lacks detailed data on the extent of eagle-related losses and population numbers. Reindeer owners have long reported significant losses to eagles, especially in spring, but feel their concerns are often dismissed. Watch a video and read more about the case here
SOURCE: NRK
Photo: KJARTAN TRANA / NRK
