Harriet, hatched in 1981, came to the National Eagle Center in 2000 after two years of rehabilitation at the Raptor Center in St. Paul, MN. Her permanent injuries were the result of a vehicular accident. Serious and irreversible damage was sustained on her left side; it left her unable to fly and thus  was unable to be re-release into the wild.

Harriet’s demeanor and unique look make her the perfect ambassador and easy to identify. The reason for the darker coloration of her head feathers and distinctive tuft are unknown. It is speculated that follicle or endocrine system damage may have caused the anomolies.

Through age and experience, Harriet has become one of our finest eagle ambassadors. She is a very subdued bird, rarely startled, easily assimilating to diverse settings and primarily vocalizing in soft, short tones.

But, don’t be fooled by her graceful presence! Harriet was and continues to be a bird of the wild. She is thought to have hatched at least four clutches of eggs in or around St. Germain, WI, in Vilas County. Her story in the wild became more clear when records of her banding were discovered two years ago, confirming her exact hatch year.

In her new career, Harriet is an undisputed success story. She has made hundreds of appearances across the country. She's been featured on the “Cobert Report” and “The Today Show.” In 2007, she was in Washington advocating for “National American Eagle Day” and celebrating the delisting of the Bald Eagle from the Endangered Species list.

Harriet’s special purpose has been working with Veterans. She visits VA hospitals at least once a month and is often invited to special ceremonies and significant musters.

Harriet is named after Harriet Tubman, an African American who fled slavery and guided runaway slaves to freedom more than a decade before the Civil War. During the Civil war, Harriet Tubman served as a scout, spy, and nurse for the United States Army. It was an honor to name our Harriet after a woman so dedicated to freedom.

Read Harriet's blog