THOMPSON, NY — On Tuesday July 28, 2026 at about 9:30 a.m., Sheriff’s Sergeant John Panos responded to a 911 report of an eagle standing in the westbound lanes of State Route 17 near exit 105. 

At the location, Panos found a bald eagle that had been feeding on a deer carcass when it was apparently struck by a passing vehicle. The bird appeared disoriented and unable to fly. Additional patrol units arrived to assist in corralling the bird. Joanne Gerow from Catskill Animal Rescue brought protective gear to the scene and Lieutenant Cheryl Crumley supplied an animal crate. Detective Chris Valastro was able to secure the eagle but, despite the protective gear, took a talon to his leg, requiring medical attention. 

The eagle was turned over to DEC Wildlife Technician Patrick Fitzgerald and taken to The Friends of the Feathered and Furry in Hunter, NY where it will be rehabilitated and eventually released back into the wild.