A sign on the main road from town indicated the entrance to the Izembek National Wildlife Refuge. The sign was three or four miles from the Air Force installation, which was located in the Refuge.
Once, while driving not far from this sign, another airman and I found a dead golden eagle in the middle of the road. We could not tell how it had died but could tell that it had expired recently. We debated leaving it, but instead placed it in the back of the pickup and took it to the wildlife authorities. They thanked us and kept the remains for examination. I never heard how that eagle died. Eagles were a common sight, but I had only seen them in the air. (Remember, there were no trees upon which they could perch. Ha!) Seeing this one at close range, the two of us were amazed at just how big it was. The eagle’s wingspan was greater than mine!