Resident West Virginia bald eagle couple Scout and Bella and their 3 eaglets became the latest eagle internet sensation this past month. Devoted livestream viewers have been eagerly watching the adorable family as each egg hatched and through each dedicated feeding by Scout and Bella.
Unfortunately, the National Conservation Training Center (NCTC) in Shepherdstown, West Virginia, announced Monday that the 22-year-old eagle nest on its campus was knocked down by the storm. Tragically, the 3 four-week-old eaglets did not survive the 90-foot fall, the center reported. Fortunately, the adult eagles, Scout and Bella, survived the incident.
Circle of Life
The tragic news saddened many livestream viewers who comforted each other in the EagleCam’s comments section. But as devoted wildlife livestream viewers know, these unexpected “circle of life” moments can come at any time. Fans and followers of the Big Bear Valley’s eagle family experienced loss earlier this year after the death of one of the three chicks during a winter storm.
Sadly, longtime viewers of the NCTC livestream know these heartbreaking moments all too well. Last year, Scout and Bella laid a clutch of three eggs. Unfortunately, dad Scout exhibited some “unexpected behavior,” and shockingly, he ended up consuming one of the hatchlings on the EagleCam.
A Hopeful Future
Despite the tragic loss, wildlife experts at the NCTC remain optimistic about the future of this particular eagle family. Last year, Scout and Bella constructed a secondary nest in the same tree. Hope remains that the eagle couple will return to the new nest and that the EagleCam livestream can continue during the next nesting season.