Bald Eagle's Cat Carcass Drop Shatters Windshield, Leaves Driver Reeling

A North Carolina driver is left reeling after a bizarre incident in which she claimed a bald eagle dropped a cat through her windshield, shattering the glass and leaving authorities and witnesses stunned. The event occurred around 8:15 a.m. on U.S. Route 74 in Swain County, near the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, according to the North Carolina Highway Patrol. The driver, though unharmed, described the moment to 911 dispatchers as "the craziest thing I've ever seen" according to the AP report.

The 911 call, obtained by WLOS-TV and NBC News, captures the driver's disbelief as she recounted the incident: "You may not believe me, but I just had a bald eagle drop a cat through my windshield. It absolutely shattered my windshield" according to the AP report. A photo shared by the Highway Patrol shows the car's windshield with a massive, jagged hole, consistent with the driver's account. The cat, identified as a carcass, was later found on the side of the road, according to the CBS News report.

Bryson City-based officials noted the driver's account was corroborated by a witness who also saw the feline fall. "He's like, 'That is the craziest thing I've ever seen,' I'm like, 'Really?'" the caller told the dispatcher, who responded with a mix of disbelief and dry humor: "Oh my goodness. Let's see. I've heard crazier" according to NBC News. The dispatcher's calm demeanor and willingness to entertain the story underscored the surreal nature of the event.

Wildlife experts provided context on the feasibility of such an occurrence. Kendrick Weeks, supervisor of the Western Wildlife Diversity Program for the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, explained that while bald eagles can carry animals the size of a cat, they typically do not hunt live felines. "They usually don't prey on something they don't find palatable," Weeks said, according to NBC News, suggesting the cat may have been scavenged roadkill. Bald eagles, which can weigh up to 14 pounds and carry prey weighing 3–5 pounds, are not known to target domestic cats, which range from 5–20 pounds according to CBS News.

The incident follows a 2019 case in North Carolina where a catfish reportedly fell through a windshield after being dropped by a bird, highlighting the occasional oddity of avian-human interactions according to CBS News. Meanwhile, the bald eagle population in the U.S. has rebounded significantly, with states like Alaska and Minnesota hosting thousands of the birds. North Carolina, though not among the top-ranked states for eagle populations, still supports a healthy number of the species, according to the 2025 Bald Eagle Population by State report.

The Highway Patrol confirmed it conducted a report but provided no further details on the incident. The driver's vehicle sustained significant damage, and while no injuries were reported, the event has sparked discussions about the unexpected ways wildlife can intersect with daily life.

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