The Continental Congress placed the Bald Eagle on the Great Seal in 1782.
Most Americans don’t realize that the Bald Eagle didn’t become the national bird until 2024.
But this video of a Florida man swimming 100 yards in alligator-infested waters will make you proud to be an American.
A bald eagle with outspread wings was placed on the Great Seal of the United States by the Continental Congress in 1782.
The bald eagle has been viewed as the national bird of the United States since it first became the symbol of the Great Seal.
However, it wasn’t officially designated as the national bird until President Biden signed a bill recognizing it as a national symbol in 2024.
Today, most Americans view the bald eagle with the same respect and adoration as the United States Flag.
With a wingspan of six to eight feet and a body length of 30 to 40 inches, Bald eagles are large birds of prey that are known for their striking white heads and tails.
In the wild, bald eagles can live for 30 years or more.
Bald eagles mate for life and return to the same nesting area each year.
The bald eagle nearly went extinct in the 1940s when breeding pairs dropped to about 450 in the lower 48 states.
In 1978, the bald eagle was designated as an endangered species.
Bald eagles were removed from the list in 2007, and today there are an estimated 316,000 bald eagles within the lower 48 states.
And a brave Florida man recently swam through 100 yards of alligator-infested waters in order to save a bald eagle’s life.
Florida man Doug Hay and his wife were hanging around the lake behind their house in Lakewood Ranch on April 19 when he suddenly heard a large splash in the water.
When he went to investigate what caused the splash, Hay and his wife noticed a bald eagle in the center of the lake with another one circling above.
Despite the lake being full of alligators, Hay wasn’t about to let the bird die.
When Hay reached the eagle, it grabbed his arm with its sharp talons.
69-year-old Hay and the bald eagle “barely made it to shore” due to exhaustion.
Hay notified a wildlife rescue once he made it to shore with the bird and realized it was too injured to fly.
The Wildlife Center of Southwest Florida took the bird, which is expected to make a full recovery.
Bald Eagles are said to have a grip 10 times stronger than a human.
And Hay suffered wounds from the eagle’s sharp talons and strong grip.
However, he said he has absolutely no regrets about saving the bird.
In fact, Hay said he would do it again to save “the symbol of America.”
Hay’s wife caught the entire ordeal on video.
A Florida man rescued an injured bald eagle after jumping into an alligator-inhabited lake in Lakewood Ranch last week.
Doug Hay, 70, was able to retrieve the eagle and bring it to land on April 19 before it was reportedly transferred to a wildlife center in Venice, Florida,… pic.twitter.com/H512ffghFs
— CBS News (@CBSNews) April 28, 2025
DeSantis Daily will keep you up-to-date on any new developments in this ongoing story.
