A motorist driving through western North Carolina experienced what must rank as one of the most unusual roadside incidents ever recorded, when a bald eagle dropped a cat carcass directly through her car's windscreen.
The Bizarre Highway Incident
The shocking event occurred on Wednesday, November 19, 2025, along U.S. Route 74 near Bryson City, close to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The unidentified driver was travelling through Swain County, approximately 65 miles southwest of Asheville, when the unexpected aerial assault shattered her passenger-side windscreen.
In a recorded 911 call that captured the moment, the astonished driver told the dispatcher: "You may not believe me, but I just had a bald eagle drop a cat through my windshield. It absolutely shattered my windshield."
The Incredulous 911 Exchange
Any concerns about how the report would be received were quickly dismissed when the dispatcher responded with remarkable calmness, stating: "OK. I do believe you, honestly," before breaking into laughter.
The driver revealed that another witness had seen the cat fall from the sky, with the bystander remarking it was "the craziest thing I've ever seen." The dispatcher offered some reassurance by noting she'd "heard crazier" before the conversation turned to practical matters.
"Another question," the dispatcher asked. "Is the cat still alive?" The caller confirmed the cat was deceased but noted it had landed on the roadside rather than inside her vehicle.
Wildlife Experts Weigh In
Kendrick Weeks, Western Wildlife Diversity Program supervisor for the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, provided insight into the eagle's unusual behaviour. He suggested the cat might have been roadkill scavenged by the eagle, noting that scavenging is common behaviour for bald eagles.
"But they can take animals the size of a cat," Weeks told The Associated Press. "It is much harder for them to take a live cat than a dead cat. They usually don't prey on something they don't find palatable."
Weeks explained that eagles and other raptors may drop prey for several reasons, including:
- Having a poor grip on the animal
- The prey struggling and the bird trying to prevent injury to itself
- Being harassed by another raptor
- The prey becoming too heavy to continue carrying
Bald eagle populations have been increasing in North Carolina, with more than 200 nesting pairs currently in the state. These impressive birds typically weigh between 6.5 and 13.5 pounds with wingspans reaching 6 to 7 feet, making them fully capable of carrying substantial prey.
Fortunately, the driver escaped unharmed from the extraordinary incident, though her windscreen required complete replacement. The event serves as a remarkable reminder of the unexpected encounters that can occur when human and wildlife habitats intersect.
