Originally published Monday, January 14, 2008 at 12:00 AM

Eagles plucked from truck in Alaska

Most of the 30 bald eagles who survived a disastrous dive into a truck full of fish guts are close to recovery, said officials at Kodiak...

By The Associated Press

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JAY BARRETT / AP

Eagles await transfer to a warm U.S. Fish and Wildlife warehouse after being rescued in Kodiak, Alaska, where they dived into the back of a truck full of fish guts and became too wet to fly away.

ANCHORAGE -- Most of the 30 bald eagles who survived a disastrous dive into a truck full of fish guts are close to recovery, said officials at Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge.

Two birds have died, but most of the remaining may soon be released.

Another 20 eagles died Friday after dozens swarmed an uncovered truck full of fish waste outside a processing plant in Kodiak, Alaska.

The birds became too soiled to fly or clean themselves, and with temperatures in the midteens, began to succumb to the cold. Some birds became so weak they sank into the fish slime and were crushed.

The truck's contents had to be dumped onto the floor of the Ocean Beauty Seafoods plant so the birds could be retrieved.

Workers from the plant and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service washed the birds in dishwashing soap to help remove the fish oil. The birds spent the night in a warm warehouse.

Eagles are protected under federal law and killing them is a crime.

It is still too early to determine what penalties, if any, the Seattle-based seafood company may face, said Kim Speckman, a special agent.

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