A Minnesota man showed his patriotism when he ran across lanes of oncoming traffic to rescue an injured bald eagle on the side of an interstate highway near Minneapolis.
Sam Ratuski, 32, noticed the eagle as he was driving southbound on Interstate 35W last month.
“I realize it may not have been the safest thing to do, but I’ve grown up in the outdoors and have always had a deep respect for animals, Ratuski told local news outlet WCCO. “So as long as I wasn’t putting anyone at risk I had to help it, it’s our national bird.”
Ratuski initially thought the bird, which was on the side of the highway with its wings outstretched, was dead.
“My heart dropped when I thought it was dead, but when I got closer I could see its head lifted up off the pavement,” Ratuski told WCCO.
A couple driving a U-Haul was able to slow down traffic enough for Ratuski to cross the lanes and retrieve the bird.
Minnesota State Patrol arrived to the scene shortly after. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources was called to help tend to the eagle.
The eagle was treated and returned to the wild.