Bald Eagle Drops Cat on North Carolina Motorist's Windshield

Sun Nov 23 2025 15:30:22 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

A bizarre incident in western North Carolina left a motorist bewildered after a bald eagle dropped a cat's carcass onto her car as she drove down the highway.

In an unusual event on U.S. Route 74 near Bryson City, a bald eagle dropped a cat through the windshield of a passing motorist. The driver immediately reported the incident to 911, where the dispatcher humorously confirmed the authenticity of the strange occurrence. While it's unclear whether the cat was discarded or accidentally dropped, wildlife officials suggest the bird may have been scavenging. Such incidents highlight the complex interactions between nature and urban life in North Carolina.

A motorist in western North Carolina escaped injury when the carcass of a cat crashed into the passenger side of her front windshield along a highway near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

In a call to 911, the unidentified driver on U.S. Route 74 in Swain County, near Bryson City, told a dispatcher that a bald eagle dropped the cat. Bryson City is about 65 miles (104 kilometers) southwest of Asheville.

It’s not clear if the feline slipped from the eagle’s talons or was discarded simply because the big bird didn’t have a taste for it.

“You may not believe me, but I just had a bald eagle drop a cat through my windshield,” the incredulous driver said on the recorded 911 call. “It absolutely shattered my windshield.”

The dispatcher calmly responded, “OK. I do believe you, honestly,” then shared a laugh, acknowledging the unusual nature of the report.

The driver noted that another witness saw the cat drop as well, with both sharing disbelief over the event. “He’s like, ‘That is the craziest thing I’ve ever seen,’” she recounted. The dispatcher reassured her, saying, “Oh my goodness. Let’s see. I’ve heard crazier.”

“Well, that’s terrifying,” the caller added, leading the dispatcher to chuckle again.

After confirming the driver’s location, the dispatcher sent the Highway Patrol to file a report. A further inquiry arose: “Is the cat still alive?”

The caller confirmed it was not but mentioned that it was on the roadside, saving the need for more intense concern.

Kendrick Weeks, the Western Wildlife Diversity Program supervisor for the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, speculated that the cat could have been roadkill, scavenged by the eagle. He explained that bald eagles are capable of carrying prey as large as a cat, although capturing live cats is more challenging.

Weeks elaborated that dropping prey can happen for several reasons, like having a poor grip or when the prey struggles too much. Such behavior is typical for bald eagles, which are native to North Carolina and have seen population increases in recent years, boasting over 200 nesting pairs.

Bald eagles can weigh between 6.5 to 13.5 pounds and have wingspans ranging from 6 to 7 feet, marking them as formidable scavengers and hunters in the sky.