Dodgers Release Bald Eagle on Fourth of July, but it Makes a Brief Escape

Watch as this pregame celebration goes wrong as a bald eagle flies out of Dodger Stadium, escaping its handlers.

Fourth of July is a time for celebration, for remembering the red, white and blue, for barbeques, fireworks and bald eagles — at least that's what the Los Angeles Dodgers thought.

The Dodgers decided to celebrate Independence Day on Monday with a fly over by a beautiful and majestic bald eagle, the national bird and national animal of the United States of America. 

Weeks earlier, the Dodgers brought the Los Angeles Zoo and two bald eagles—a male and female—to the stadium before a game to practice the routine. Those test runs went smoothly as both eagles easily landed on the arms of their gloved handlers after flying across the diamond.

However, things did not go according to plan in the actual pre-game performance between the Dodgers and Orioles (no relation to the Eagles).

The first eagle, a female, was released and she flew across the stadium, hovering over the right field pavilion before she landed on the warning track in centerfield where she was scooped up by her handlers.

After the succesful first flight was complete, it was time for the second, by the stubborn male bald eagle.

After flying through the stadium, the liberty-loving eagle was set to land on its handler in shallow center, but he missed the landing and instead headed toward open gates behind the centerfield wall where he quickly veered left and vanished.

The video above shows the entire flight made by the second male bald eagle as he disappears around the screen in centerfield. You can even see the LA Zoo handlers chasing after him.

According to witnesses and reports, the eagle landed just behind the left field pavilion in an area known as the left field plaza. Handlers were able to retrieve the massive bird of prey and it is now safely back at the LA Zoo. 

Happy Fourth of July, everyone! 

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