The Pittsburgh Hays female bald eagle vigorously defended both of her eggs when a curious raccoon climbed about 80 feet to reach the nest Wednesday evening, according to PixCams, the Murrysville wildlife webcam company.
The Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania, along with PixCams, operates a live 24-hour webcam that caught all of the action.
After the female defended the eggs and chased the raccoon, the male swooped in to ensure the intruding raccoon stayed away, according to PixCams.
The eagles and their eggs were unharmed.
“It’s the bird’s parental instinct to protect the nest and the eggs,” said Rachel Handel, Audubon spokeswoman. “This pair of bald eagles has defended the nest in previous years and their dedication to ensuring the safety of the eggs was very evident when they perceived a threat to their nest—and their offspring.”
The Hays couple is in its ninth year of nesting on the same hillside above the Monongahela River. They have two eggs in their nest, which were laid last Friday and Monday. In recent years, the pair usually has laid three eggs; another egg is possible in the next few days.
