American Bald eagle vs Canada Goose: Photographer captures 'symbolic' wildlife clash

TOI World Desk / TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Updated: Mar 6, 2025, 14:22 IST

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A Canadian photographer captured a gripping encounter between a bald eagle and a Canada goose on a frozen lake. The goose successfully defended itself, and the eagle retreated. The encounter coincided with heightened political tensions between Canada and the U.S., symbolizing resistance.

American Bald eagle vs Canada Goose: Photographer captures 'symbolic' wildlife clash

American Bald eagle vs Canada Goose (Image credit: Mervyn Sequeira/ @msequeiraphotography on Insta)

In a wild encounter that became a symbol of rivalry between two nations, a Canadian photographer witnessed a confrontation on a frozen lake, where a bald eagle's attempt to prey on a Canada goose resulted in an unforeseen outcome.
Mervyn Sequeira and his family observed the bald eagle's descent towards the lake, where a solitary Canada goose stood exposed. Sequeira, anticipating the unfolding drama, readied his camera to document what he presumed would be a straightforward predatory encounter.
Over twenty minutes, Sequeira's photographs captured a display of resistance as the goose successfully defended itself against the eagle's repeated attacks. The larger predator eventually retreated, unsuccessful in its hunting attempt.

"Not often does one see our apex raptor, the American Bald Eagle attempting to take down a Canada Goose.," he noted.

This became a symbol of real-life political events, as the timing of this natural encounter coincides with heightened tensions between Canada and the United States, following Trump's implementation of 25% tariffs on Canadian goods and provocative statements about annexation.
This incident follows Canada's recent victory in a significant ice hockey match in Boston. Justin Trudeau responded to these events, stating, "You can't take our country �?and you can't take our game."

Sequeira, drawing from his experience as a retired airline pilot and wildlife photographer, maintained a neutral stance on any symbolic interpretations. "It's quite a coincidence that it should have happened at this time. And I'm not entirely surprised. I like to look at things from the naturalist point of view and from the wildlife photographer's point of view and not put a spin on it. But it's quite natural for people to look at it in the context of what's happening," he said, as quoted by the Guardian.

Snapshot of encounter (Image credit: Mervyn Sequeira)

The photographer also offered his straightforward observation: "Nature has its way of taking out the weak and the not so well and the injured. The eagle likely thought it would be able to take it out quite easilyI. But, it wasn't."

'Wild' encounter (Image credit: Mervyn Sequeira)

Additionally, offering background on the wildlife involved, Sequeira claimed that, "the goose had all the symptoms of Avian Influenza . It survived the encounter with the eagle but would certainly soon succumb to the virus, the injuries and the cold." "The eagles, while doing their job, contract the virus from infected waterfowl like this one. In the last two years, we have lost many Bald eagles to the virus," he added.

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