Chenango County Agriculture Teacher Cat Reeder holds the injured eagle that she and a DEC Officer captured off of State Highway 12 in Greene. (Photo by Harper Najarian)

GREENE - On Saturday, March 8, an injured bald eagle was perched alongside State Highway 12 in Greene.

With the help from Chenango County Agriculture Teacher Cat Reeder and a New York State Department of Environmental Conservation officer, the eagle was captured and taken to the Cornell Swanson Wildlife Health Center.

Cornell took the eagle in and noted it was the smallest adult eagle they have ever seen and began administering medication. The test for bird flu came out negative but testing will continue for further results.

“They said they will call me with additional updates once they have them,” Reeder added. “And once mended, the eagle will be released back to the area it was found because eagles mate for life.”

"This was an experience of a lifetime and capturing the bird was very difficult and tricky,” said Reeder. “I’m pretty bruised and scratched up from the dead briar and brush but I met so many great people today and can't thank everyone enough for helping me."

Reeder was heading back home to Preston from Binghamton when her son noticed the bird first and brought it to her attention.

“My son said look at that eagle,” said Reeder. “I looked over and saw the eagle perched on the guard rail, rarely do eagles come that close to the road, even when hunting.”