Teddy the Bald Eagle safely returns home to Coaldale after missing for five days

Posted on August 13, 2026 by Sunny South News

By Kristine Jean
Sunny South News

Teddy, a juvenile Bald Eagle who went missing for several days late last month, is now back home in Coaldale at the Birds of Prey Centre. 

During a flight show at the centre on July 27, a gust of wind swept Teddy away and he couldn’t find his way back. His inexperience prevented him from returning to the centre noted Colin Weir, managing director at the Birds of Prey Centre.

Teddy was found as a starving juvenille Bald Eagle in the Lethbridge area in the spring of 2025, and was brought to the Birds of Prey Centre in Coaldale. 

After missing for five days and many reported sightings during that time, Teddy was eventually captured on July 31.  

“It was a big relief. There’s a lot of dangers out there,” said Weir. “We’re glad that we have him home safe and sound now.”  

Gillian Blade is a summer student and senior staff member at the Birds of Prey Centre, who trained Teddy along side Weir over the past several months. She was working the flight show with him on July 27, when the unthinkable happened.  

“Teddy had been off of the tether for two flight shows already … he was doing great and in his third time flying to the post he got caught up by a gust of wind,” said Blade. “He circled a few times to try to come back but he just kept getting higher and higher and eventually headed further into Coaldale.”

Staff at the Birds of Prey Centre immediately began searching for Teddy and used every possible means to locate him, including reaching out to the public via social media to request Coaldale residents keep an eye open for the young, missing Bald Eagle.  

One of those who stepped up to help in the search was Coaldale Mayor Jack Van Rijn, who was contacted by Weir shortly after Teddy went missing. He reached out to Coaldale residents and followers on social media for assistance.  

“As soon as I had the details, I posted it across my social media platforms to help spread the word. Social media can be a very powerful tool in situations like this because within a short period of time you can have thousands of people seeing the post, sharing it and keeping an eye out,” said Van Rijn, who pointed to an example of the value and power of social media in the Coaldale community when someone loses a pet.  

“Our Coaldale and District Municipal Enforcement team regularly uses social media to share information about lost or found pets and helps reunite them with their families,” he added. “Social media allows that information to spread very quickly, and suddenly you have an entire community keeping an eye out. We saw that same community response with Teddy. People shared the post, reported sightings and wanted to help, and thankfully Teddy was found safe and brought back home to the Birds of Prey Centre.”

Despite several sightings and attempts to locate Teddy early in the week, he evaded capture for several days, and as time went on Blade said she and other staff continued to worry about Teddy’s safety.  

“I was taking it pretty hard. I knew he had been around Coaldale for four of those five days – we kept getting a lot of posts (on social media) but every time Colin would try to go get him it would be too late. He’d get startled by something and take off,” she said, noting concerns that he might not survive on his own. “He doesn’t really have the instincts other Eagles have, he’s an imprint Eagle so he doesn’t know how to hunt.”

Weir said are very thankful for the support and assistance they received from Coaldale Mayor Jack Van Rijn and members of the public, including the reports of Teddy sightings in North Lethbridge on July 31, that eventually lead to his capture.   

Teddy was finally located sitting on top of a semi-trailer at a north side business in Lethbridge. They were able to identify him because he still had jesses on his legs – thin leather straps wrapped around his ankles.  

“As soon as he saw me his head just perked up right away and I had his attention,” said Weir. “I put my glove up in the air with a bit of food on it – he came scampering across the roof of a truck as fast as he could … and then he just jumped in the air and glided down and landed on my arm.”   

Weir and staff at the centre surprised Blade with Teddy’s return, and didn’t notify her of his capture until she saw him face to face.  

“I get there and hiding around the corner, Teddy was sitting on Chyan’s arm. It was a big surprise,” said Blade.  

They will keep Teddy tethered during future flight shows for the remainder of the season, noted Blade, adding they do plan to take him off the line eventually, but may do it next summer when he’s a little bit older, stronger and has more experience with flight demonstrations.  

Since his return Teddy’s gained some weight and is clearly happy to be back at the Birds of Prey Centre with his trainers. 

“He’s doing amazing. It’s almost as if it never happened,” said Blade. “We do have him doing flight shows on the line now and he’s been doing amazing. We’ve been very proud of his progress.”