Date: August 29, 2026
Reporter: Kim White
A father and his teenage son in Nova Scotia turned an ordinary fishing trip into an unexpected wildlife rescue after they accidentally hooked a bald eagle and then worked together to bring the struggling bird safely to shore.
Bryan Esbaugh and his 15-year-old son, Wyatt, were fishing on Ponhook Lake in Queens County when they realized that their fishing line had become attached to a bald eagle. Rather than cutting the line and leaving the injured bird in the water, the pair decided to carefully bring the eagle closer so they could free it.
The encounter presented a difficult situation because the bird was powerful, frightened and capable of seriously injuring anyone who attempted to handle it. Bald eagles are large birds of prey with strong talons and powerful beaks, making any attempt to rescue one a potentially dangerous undertaking.
Esbaugh and his son nevertheless continued working to get the bird out of the lake. They hauled the eagle toward shore, taking care not to make the situation worse as the exhausted bird struggled in the water.
Once they reached the shoreline, the pair were able to safely free the eagle from the fishing equipment. The bird was then released back into the wild after the rescue.
The incident is a reminder of the unexpected encounters that can occur between people and wildlife in Nova Scotia, where bald eagles are an established part of the province's bird population. The species can be found around lakes, rivers and coastal areas, where it often hunts or scavenges for fish.
For the father and son, what began as a routine day on the lake quickly became a memorable experience involving one of Canada's most recognizable birds.
Their decision to bring the eagle to shore rather than simply abandon it demonstrated the importance of taking action when wildlife becomes caught in fishing equipment. Discarded or active fishing lines and hooks can pose serious dangers to birds and other animals that come into contact with them.
The successful rescue also ended what could have become a potentially fatal situation for the eagle. After becoming hooked, the bird could have remained trapped in the water or become increasingly exhausted, leaving it vulnerable to drowning or other injuries.
Instead, the father and son were able to bring the bird to safety and remove the fishing equipment, allowing it to return to its natural environment.
The encounter has since become an unusual fishing story for the Nova Scotia family, turning what could have been a tragic accident into a successful wildlife rescue.
For Esbaugh and Wyatt, the experience was a reminder that a day spent on the water can sometimes involve much more than catching fish. On this occasion, their most important catch was a bald eagle that needed their help—and they managed to get it safely back into the wild.