Army Veteran Uses Rifle to Rescue Eagle Named ‘Freedom’ From a Tree

An Army veteran spent his Fourth of July weekend fighting for freedom - specifically, an eagle named Freedom.

Image source: Facebook

According to KARE-TV, Jason Galvin, who served two tours in Afghanistan, and his wife Jackie discovered the eagle trapped in a tree, tangled in a rope. After reporting the bird to local authorities - all of whom said they couldn’t help - they decided to take matters into their own hands.

Galvin used a neighbor’s .22 caliber rifle to sever the rope and free the bird.

“It was a good weekend for it to happen,” Galvin told KARE. “Fourth of July, you know, that’s our bird. I can’t let it sit there.”

It took Galvin about 90 minutes and 150 shots to rescue the eagle.

“It was very windy and I was just waiting for the right shot,” Galvin said.

Galvin’s wife Jackie wrote on Facebook that she begged her husband to try and set the eagle free by shooting the rope, although he was nervous he would face legal ramifications for shooting at an eagle.

“I can't even tell you how amazing this experience was and I knew of all people, my husband wouldn't let me down!” Jackie wrote.

Jackie added that they named the eagle “Freedom,” and they plan to release it back into the wild after it recovers.

“What an amazing hero, my Army Veteran saving an eagle on 4th of July Weekend! I love you Jason and all that you are!” she wrote.

According to KARE, Freedom is recovering at the University of Minnesota Raptor Center.

Watch below:

This post has been updated.

—

Follow the author of this story on Twitter and Facebook:

Follow @kgscanlon