Entertainment

Golden Eagle Swoops Down and Nearly Flies Away With Toddler – But Is It Real? (Update: NO!)

(Editor’s note: As many had speculated, the video in this original post was a clever creation by some film students. See the full story attached at the end of this post.)

This clip will give every parent — wait, every single person who watches it — a chill. However, questions being raised about the video’s veracity.

It starts innocently enough by showing a beautiful Golden Eagle circling the blue skies above a park in Montreal.

Video of eagle almost snatching baby from a park in Canada

Image: YouTube

For the non-bird watchers among us, according to National Geographic, the Golden Eagle is the largest bird of prey in North America. The bird typically feeds on ground squirrels and rabbits. Nat Geo also reports that the Golden Eagle has the ability to strike with amazing speed: “They are extremely swift, and can dive upon their quarry at speeds of more than 150 miles per hour.”

Video of eagle almost snatching baby from a park in Canada

Image: National Geographic – Joe McDonald/Animals Animals

In the viral video, the camera follows the bird as it swoops from the sky into the park, and tries to grab a small child from the grass.

Video of eagle almost snatching baby from a park in Canada

Image: YouTube

The bird did manage to grab and lift the child a few feet off the ground before letting go. The mother and cameraman rushed to the scene to comfort the apparently uninjured baby.

Video of eagle almost snatching baby from a park in Canada

Image: YouTube

Did the baby’s hat – featuring two large eyes – have anything to do with attracting the bird from the sky?

Some web commenters have suggested that the video is a fake. We have watched it several times and believe it to be real. The Toronto Star is reporting that police in Montreal say that no one has called in a report about the alleged attempted abduction.

What do you think?Β Watch the entire clip (content warning for graphic language), and share your opinion in the comments section. Β Is it real or is it just a clever clip?

UPDATE:

You can watch us debate if the video is real or not during our BlazeCast show from earlier today:

UPDATE II:

The video is a fake. Part of a “Hoax the Internet” competition from Centre NAD in Montreal. Β The admission of “guilt” from the NAD website:

The β€œGolden Eagle Snatches Kid” video, uploaded to YouTube on the evening of December 18, was made by Normand Archambault, LoΓ―c Mireault and FΓ©lix Marquis-Poulin, students at Centre NAD, in the production simulation workshop class of the Bachelors degree in 3D Animation and Digital Design.

The video shows a royal eagle snatching a young kid while he plays under the watch of his dad. The eagle then drops the kid a few feet away. Both the eagle and the kid were created in 3D animation and integrated in to the film afterwards.

The video has already received more than 1,200,000 views on YouTube and has been mentioned by dozens of media in Canada and abroad.

The production simulation workshop class, offered in fifth semester, aims to produce creative projects according to industry production and quality standards while developing team work skills. Hoaxes produced in this class have already garnered attention, amongst others aΒ video of a penguin having escaped the Montreal BiodΓ΄me.

If you guessed “fake” — pat yourself on the back. We cannot wait for next year’s efforts.

In CONTROL, Glenn Beck presents a passionate, fact-based case for guns that reveals why gun control isn’t really about controlling guns at all; it’s about controlling us. Find out more HERE.

Comments (223)

  • dcshadows
    Posted on December 19, 2012 at 10:22am

    Breaking News – Big Bird has put a hit on all Humans. He has reached out to the New Big Bird Party to hit all MF’ers that look Human. He has charged the NBBP to kill all babies first so Humans will stop reproducing.
    Glad President Barack Obama is in Big Bird’s corner. The Dep. of Justice will just look the other way.

    This is only the beginning – BEWARE!!!

    Report this comment

    dcshadows  
    • CABERNETQHS
      Posted on December 19, 2012 at 10:40am

      Actually, it’s Obama’s fault. He recently declared a war on eagles…remember the indian tribe somewhere that can kill them for their body parts. Should have seen this one coming.

      Report this comment

      CABERNETQHS  
    • Objectivist_John_Galt
      Posted on December 19, 2012 at 11:27am

      “The police did not get a report about an attempted abduction” Really?? Do they really think someone was going to call in a police report on a bird attempting to abduct a child? Probably would have arrested the caller for pranking the police dept. and had them tested for drug use.

      Report this comment

      Objectivist_John_Galt  
    • decendentof56
      Posted on December 19, 2012 at 11:51am

      Oh s#*t is the same in French as in English…who would have guessed.

      Uh…….back to the video. It certainly looks real to me. It would be pure speculation as to how long the wingspan is on that bird. It is one big bird, for sure. You don’t want to tangle with those talons.

      Report this comment

      decendentof56  
    • Gold Coin & Economic News
      Posted on December 19, 2012 at 11:52am

      Eagles should be banned, if they can do this they are a danger to society. Where is Obama when you need him? Why doesn’t he do something about this?
      http://www.isthatbaloney.com/alex-jones-give-prophetic-warning-about-gun-control-laws-and-comments-on-fake-obama-crying/

      Report this comment

      Gold Coin & Economic News  
    • Baddoggy
      Posted on December 19, 2012 at 12:57pm

      The great American diet saved that kid. He was too damn fat for the Eagle to take! Tell Michelle to shut her trap! Tell Bloomburg that extra soft drinks save a baby!!

      Report this comment

      Baddoggy  
    • UNALIEN
      Posted on December 19, 2012 at 1:24pm

      this is clearly an allegory..

      Montreal represents socialism,

      the Eagle, the State,
      the golden. the monetary system,
      the infant the future generations…

      The scene represent the NeoKeynesian Statist monopoly subverting freedom and liberty by controlling liberty and its purposeful enslavement and capture of our future…

      UNALIEN  
    • debrarae
      Posted on December 19, 2012 at 2:02pm

      Actually the video is real. There have been records of birds of pray (eagles included) going after what they thought to be ‘unintended’ children, since before the 70′s. My brother upon hearing of this at South Hills Elementary School in Texas ..would often taunt me (as I was extremely small for my age) that the birds would come for me if I didn’t ‘watch’ out.

      But yet Obama has declared war on the Eagles (so as to respect the rights of American Indians), and continues to taunt Catholics. Go Figure.

      Report this comment

      debrarae  
    • Bloody Sam
      Posted on December 19, 2012 at 2:22pm

      Yeah…this is about as real as the video of that stunt plane losing a wing and being landed unscathed.
      I call BS on this one.

      Report this comment

      Bloody Sam  
    • apexmoon
      Posted on December 19, 2012 at 3:02pm

      @BADDOGGY

      He’s Canadian not American

      Report this comment

      apexmoon  
    • James
      Posted on December 19, 2012 at 4:21pm

      I believe,An Eagle stole my first wife.We never did find her.

      Report this comment

      James  
    • wordsofwisdom
      Posted on December 19, 2012 at 4:36pm

      Fake. There is no shadow for the kid but a shadow of the eagle without the kid can be seen even though the bird is holding the kid. Clearly a bad fake just like Obama, a fake!
      β€œWalk’s Like a Duck” http://www.reverbnation.com/play_now/song_11352998 just spreading the truth around.

      Report this comment

      wordsofwisdom  
    • Joanne
      Posted on December 19, 2012 at 5:48pm

      @UNALIEN…. VERY good analogy!! LOL

      Report this comment

      Joanne  
    • 4kidsandacat
      Posted on December 19, 2012 at 6:27pm

      You guys are cracking me up! Thank goodness the kid was ok though, but really slow reaction from mom there, I would have been chucking stuff at that eagle if it had my kid!

      Report this comment

      4kidsandacat  
    • WATER-THE-TREE
      Posted on December 19, 2012 at 8:21pm

      Almost as good as BAH RAHC has put on this country!

      Report this comment

      WATER-THE-TREE  
    • nzkiwi
      Posted on December 19, 2012 at 8:48pm

      I came to this story after the update, so the secret was out already.

      I have to be honest and say that I looked at the video several times and I would have been fooled.

      That was a very clever piece of work.

      Report this comment

      nzkiwi  
    • arckangjell
      Posted on December 20, 2012 at 3:46pm

      to all hey hey hey I dont recall any eagles abducting babies when Bush was in office what the crap is this country coming to! Did anyone notice whether or not the eagle had a cigerette in its beek or not?

      Report this comment

      arckangjell  
    • jaylew
      Posted on December 20, 2012 at 7:09pm

      Well since we do most of Canada’s heavy lifting around the world it is nice to see their college students get to play so.

      I would like to see a fake video of the Canadian Health Care system actually scheduling a MRI or CT Scan less than 8 weeks from the day it is prescribed.

      Report this comment

      jaylew  
  • urrybr
    Posted on December 19, 2012 at 10:22am

    The wingspan of the eagle looks a bit big. A golden eagle’s wingspan is about six feet. That one looks about eight to ten. I think it’s a phony.

    Report this comment

    urrybr  
    • COFemale
      Posted on December 19, 2012 at 11:13am

      The wing span of an eagle can be anywhere from 5.9 to 7.5 feet. Looking at one wing that is slightly outstretched it appears close to 3.5 ft. You might want to do some research before you emphatically declare something is fake because an eagles wing span looks to you as 8-10 ft. You either have bad eyesight or poor judgment of distance.

      What bothers me is the woman never once looked up. You would think something that big would catch your eye and you’d run like hell towards your child, but during the whole snatch and grab she remained oblivious to what was happening. For this reaction alone, I think it is fake.

      Report this comment

      COFemale  
    • RDavis49
      Posted on December 19, 2012 at 11:30am

      In your effort to educate everyone here and impress us with what you think you know, you have missed the point of the video…… Why can’t people like you just be human instead of always trying to analyze and impress others?

      Report this comment

      RDavis49  
    • libsrparasites
      Posted on December 19, 2012 at 11:39am

      Give cofemale a break.

      The user name states this heshe is half female and half male.

      That in itself is impressive!

      Report this comment

      libsrparasites  
    • 98Bravo
      Posted on December 19, 2012 at 11:49am

      @COFemale The woman did look up, when the film is slowed down it looks like it took a long time, but it was only 2 seconds or less in “real time”.. and you can hear someone else yelling “hey, hey” in the background besides this guy saying “oh ****”, so you have 2 others who were aware of the situation.

      Report this comment

      98Bravo  
    • needawhitepresident
      Posted on December 19, 2012 at 11:52am

      Tell me again how someone would fake this? How would they show the baby being lifted into the air and DROPPED onto the ground from around four feet? What mother would allow anyone to do such a thing to her child? You guys who think someone faked this are ridiculous!

      Report this comment

      needawhitepresident  
    • paperpushermj
      Posted on December 19, 2012 at 12:10pm

      The Child was reported as unhurt so I ask what was the Eagles Talons digging into that allowed the bird to lift the child up so many feet off the ground?

      Report this comment

      paperpushermj  
    • SistaTriscuit
      Posted on December 19, 2012 at 1:17pm

      PaperPusher, if you notice, the child has a very thick, puffy winter coat on. The eagle had a hold of him, from looking at the vid in slow-mo, only by the right shoulder. It also looked it didn’t have a hold of much, it probably just got a bit of the shoulder area of the coat.

      I live in northwestern WY. I have personally seen an eagle take a fawn. Yes, literally TAKE a fawn. He didn’t just take it down, he picked it up and carried it off, the fawn struggled, the eagle dropped it and it must’ve broken the fawn’s back because the eagle circled around, swooped down and picked it up and flew off with it hanging limp from his talons. I also had one attempt to snatch my Blue Heeler pup when she was about 6 months old, and at 6 months old they aren’t particularly small. Considering that Mongolian hunters use eagles as birds of prey to take down game and fur animals, including wolves, I don’t know why on earth people would find this video so hard to believe.

      Honestly, if an eagle attempted to snatch my baby, I would not call the police and report it. People using that as some sort of logic behind the possibility of it being faked just seems asinine to me.

      Report this comment

      SistaTriscuit  
    • Truthbeliever2
      Posted on December 19, 2012 at 3:30pm

      COFEMALE, You might want to look up the definition of emphatically. LOL

      Just for the record. I believe its real.

      Report this comment

      Truthbeliever2  
    • paperpushermj
      Posted on December 19, 2012 at 8:14pm

      @SISTATRISCUIT
      Thanks I see what you where speaking to.

      Report this comment

      paperpushermj  
  • Jimster123
    Posted on December 19, 2012 at 10:22am

    No doubt about it! Joe Biden must now head up a “task force” to rid the world of golden eagles!! Ban the birds, now; Lets ban everything as a matter of fact!!! Ban it, ban it, BAN IT!

    Report this comment

    Jimster123  
  • Blazen420
    Posted on December 19, 2012 at 10:16am

    Look real to me. An eagle can carry away 30-40 lbs no problem.

    Report this comment

    Blazen420  
    • JQuentinEvermann
      Posted on December 19, 2012 at 10:24am

      We need to ban eagles! How far will this go before we understand how dangerous eagles are?

      Report this comment

      JQuentinEvermann  
    • raptor45
      Posted on December 19, 2012 at 10:37am

      No they can’t carry away that much. They’re not cargo planes for pete’s sake.

      Report this comment

      raptor45  
    • CABERNETQHS
      Posted on December 19, 2012 at 10:42am

      Looked real. Suppose it’s possible. Why was the baby sitting so far from the mother??? Kind of odd.

      Report this comment

      CABERNETQHS  
    • Kumo
      Posted on December 19, 2012 at 11:37am

      Typo there on the baby’s relative, it looks like his Father. Look closely at the video and you will see a man rather than a woman standing next to the stroller.

      @cabernetqhs. My question exactly. Looks like dad was at least 10 feet (3 meters) away from his kid. Absolutely careless on his part. I am never out of an arms reach of my 4-month-old daughter out in public, there are just too many uncertainties that could happen.

      Report this comment

      Kumo  
  • weareskrewed
    Posted on December 19, 2012 at 10:15am

    If this video is real; I think the the only thing that saved him/ her is his/ her clothing. It probably ripped from the force of the bird’s velocity + the weight. It also probably prevented any flesh damage; I believe their claws are several inches long ? I think warmer weather + lighter clothing would have meant a very bad result.

    Report this comment

    weareskrewed  
    • The_Sum_Total_Of_Progressivism_Is_Epic_Failure
      Posted on December 19, 2012 at 10:20am

      This looks real to me, those birds are huge. Awesome video regardless

      Report this comment

      The_Sum_Total_Of_Progressivism_Is_Epic_Failure  
    • YouCantExplainThat
      Posted on December 19, 2012 at 10:22am

      This is exactly what happened to my dog. We were up in the mountains, it was cold, so he had a cute little coat on, and then out of nowhere a vulture swooped down, grabbed it up. I freaked, ran after it, and then my dog fell from about 10 feet up. His coat was all ripped up, and he was fine.

      Report this comment

      YouCantExplainThat  
    • Battle1925
      Posted on December 19, 2012 at 12:55pm

      I would be scared if I was picked up by a eagle

      Report this comment

      Battle1925  
    • Twobyfour
      Posted on December 19, 2012 at 1:02pm

      That’s an odd behavior for a vulture…. You sure about the species?

      Report this comment

      Twobyfour  
  • loafer4952
    Posted on December 19, 2012 at 10:13am

    Some thing wrong here. If the eagle would have picked the baby up. He would have had engeries from the claws on the eagle. He would have been in pain and some marks.

    Report this comment

    loafer4952  
    • Shamrock241
      Posted on December 19, 2012 at 10:23am

      No it’s just like the poster before you wrote, the fact that the child had on a thick winter coat protected him from serious injury.

      Report this comment

      Shamrock241  
    • RightUnite
      Posted on December 19, 2012 at 10:35am

      @SHAMROCK, have you seen their talons?? That little coat he was wearing would not have protected him from those talons.

      Report this comment

      RightUnite  
    • starman70
      Posted on December 19, 2012 at 11:07am

      @ RIGHTUNITE:

      If the eagle was able only to grab fabric and it tore loose, the toddler wouldn’t have any injuries.

      Mothers, here is an example of why you should keep your babies close at all times.

      Report this comment

      starman70  
    • AngryK9
      Posted on December 19, 2012 at 1:29pm

      Loafer. Do you mean injuries? I think the eagle was probable just being very careful. They’re quite smart you know.

      Report this comment

      AngryK9  
  • ZAP
    Posted on December 19, 2012 at 10:09am

    Smoke and mirrors just like our government

    Report this comment

    ZAP  
    • Cesium
      Posted on December 19, 2012 at 3:01pm

      Exactly how I feel when I read an ancient religious text describing a breach of physical law! you must be an atheist too! This is video evidence for an eagle picking up the kid but you quickly dismiss it as likely being fake because you aren’t sure! bravo! We have a rare critical thinker here on the blaze. So, when did you realize the bible was full of crap too?

      Report this comment

      Cesium  
  • ChiefGeorge
    Posted on December 19, 2012 at 10:09am

    Definitely real! The flight in is perfect, wing tuck for dive speed then a perfect flare for stopping. It was definitely at it full lifting capacity and exceeded it.

    Report this comment

    ChiefGeorge  
    • ccangel01
      Posted on December 19, 2012 at 2:24pm

      The baby was wearing a “bird” hat, the eagle probley thought he was a bird also.
      Parents need to make sure the child does not wear that hat again.

      Report this comment

      ccangel01  
  • AbrahamsSheepdog
    Posted on December 19, 2012 at 10:06am

    She looked like a zebra sheep. He looked like elmo. Eagle shows curiousness to be sure. Smart big mean king hawk. Glad we have cameras. A chaotic world full of hawks.

    Report this comment

    AbrahamsSheepdog  
  • stopprintn
    Posted on December 19, 2012 at 9:59am

    Ten more years and this wont be a problem. The bird wacking wind mills will take care of these evil birds. It’s ok though, rabit hunting will be great.

    Report this comment

    stopprintn  
  • Mary J 0604
    Posted on December 19, 2012 at 9:56am

    Quick!!!!! Somebody needs to get Biden on a task force for Eagle control!! :P
    (Biden couldn’t run a task force to control crayons in a pre-school.)

    Report this comment

    Mary J 0604  
  • Looking_Up
    Posted on December 19, 2012 at 9:55am

    The kid probably just looked like a Hobbit from that height.

    Report this comment

    Looking_Up  
  • smokey888x2
    Posted on December 19, 2012 at 9:53am

    Here comes the LIBERALS ….. WITH GUNS, to kill them there eagles or beat’m over the head with rolled up copies of the constitution!!

    Report this comment

    smokey888x2  
    • Cavallo
      Posted on December 19, 2012 at 9:59am

      The only thing liberals use the Constitution for is to wipe their rears with.

      Report this comment

      Cavallo  
    • Chango
      Posted on December 19, 2012 at 10:01am

      Man you are a Moron

      Report this comment

      Chango  
    • Zipit
      Posted on December 19, 2012 at 10:09am

      Someone call the President! This is another example of a botched post berth abortion by an unqualified raptor!

      Report this comment

      Zipit  
    • Cesium
      Posted on December 19, 2012 at 2:57pm

      @smokey ?????!?! Which liberals? the vegans, vegetarians, or PETA members?

      Report this comment

      Cesium  
  • goldmind
    Posted on December 19, 2012 at 9:50am

    A few pounds lighter, and this child would have been a meal.

    Report this comment

    goldmind  
    • NOT A CRAZY
      Posted on December 19, 2012 at 10:00am

      That was a close one. I have seen chicken hawks (red tail hawks) do the same thing to little dogs.

      Report this comment

      NOT A CRAZY  
    • Inlightofthings
      Posted on December 19, 2012 at 11:29am

      NOT A CRAZY:
      Thought for sure with that Avatar you’d suggest the local municipality post signs:

      Attention Golden Eagles…Eat Mor Chikin

      Report this comment

      Inlightofthings  
    • NOT A CRAZY
      Posted on December 20, 2012 at 12:55am

      The sign should say: Eagles are great, they taste just like Chikin.

      Report this comment

      NOT A CRAZY  
  • AngusKhan
    Posted on December 19, 2012 at 9:49am

    On a related note: Cheaper Than Dirt has just announced that they will NO LONGER sell bird feeders, bird seed, or anything related to scary eagles. They are also reviewing their internal policies to ensure that none of their soon to be laid-off employees wear anything from American Eagle in the work place!

    Report this comment

    AngusKhan  
    • Mary J 0604
      Posted on December 19, 2012 at 10:02am

      HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!! That was good!! lol

      Report this comment

      Mary J 0604  
    • NOT A CRAZY
      Posted on December 19, 2012 at 10:05am

      Funny, if it wasn’t so true! I was just going through my emails and CTD was sending out Days of Christmas emails up until last Friday advertising their guns and then they pulled their little stunt. They might as well never send me another one at this point. Time to unsubscribe.

      Report this comment

      NOT A CRAZY  
    • kam123
      Posted on December 19, 2012 at 10:54am

      My states pension fund manager has just announced they are divesting all of their holdings from Audobon and any other birds of prey supporters ; )

      Report this comment

      kam123  
  • AngusKhan
    Posted on December 19, 2012 at 9:47am

    The President will be holding a press conference on this shortly, announcing a ban on all Eagles and an outright changing of the American bird to the Vulture (who would never attack an inncocent child, they would just snatch up the decaying pieces after they were already dead…kind of what it will be like with politicians picking at the pieces of our decaying country).

    Also, he has ordered a Task Force lead by bird enthusiast Joe Biden to get to the bottom of this!

    Report this comment

    AngusKhan  
  • BobtheMoron
    Posted on December 19, 2012 at 9:46am

    Watched it slo-mo seems real, but I’m no expert.

    Report this comment

    BobtheMoron  
  • horsehockey
    Posted on December 19, 2012 at 9:45am

    Looks real, eagles have been known to be a danger to small animals/humans.

    Report this comment

    horsehockey  
  • forthepeople
    Posted on December 19, 2012 at 9:41am

    Look real , and there reaction is genuine . If planed , edited there surely be more dialog . Thats said the eagle cry was added in .

    Report this comment

    forthepeople  
  • momrules
    Posted on December 19, 2012 at 9:40am

    Well it sure looked real to me. Why not? Big, big bird, small, moving prey to the eagle.

    Report this comment

    momrules  
  • Mandors
    Posted on December 19, 2012 at 9:39am

    That’s not a golden eagle. The silvery white on the ends of its wings shows it’s a different bird.

    Report this comment

    Mandors  
    • nonofmybiznez
      Posted on December 19, 2012 at 10:02am

      Could have been an imature baldy

      Report this comment

      nonofmybiznez  
    • Zipit
      Posted on December 19, 2012 at 10:20am

      I think your right Biz! Looks like a young bald.

      Report this comment

      Zipit  
    • BostonHarold
      Posted on December 19, 2012 at 4:41pm

      Correctomundo sir…good eye…notice the protruding ‘knuckles’ on the wings and the white and black markings. That’s no Golden Eagle. The hoaxers spliced in video of an Osprey grabbing a fish. A common sight in bodies of water.

      Report this comment

      BostonHarold  
    • Zipit
      Posted on December 19, 2012 at 11:44pm

      Boston! Not an Osprey! The shape of the birds wings while soaring shows that it’s an eagle! And, Osprey almost always dive into the water with their wings tucked in by their side when fishing!

      Report this comment

      Zipit  
  • rahlquist
    Posted on December 19, 2012 at 9:38am

    QUICK! Better ban eagles they are trying to kill kids!

    Report this comment

    rahlquist  
  • UNALIEN
    Posted on December 19, 2012 at 9:38am

    looks real,,

    we need to ban children’s hats with eyes now,,,

    Report this comment

    UNALIEN  
    • UNALIEN
      Posted on December 19, 2012 at 9:52am

      looks like the Eagle attacked form the back,, the kids hats eyes were pointed forward

      Report this comment

      UNALIEN  
    • nonofmybiznez
      Posted on December 19, 2012 at 10:03am

      They don’t usually attack something that is facing them.

      Report this comment

      nonofmybiznez  
    • NOT A CRAZY
      Posted on December 19, 2012 at 10:11am

      If you watch the video the bird comes from the left and then circles around and attacks. It could very easily have seen the eyes. We need to go to heart of the problem here though, little children…they must be banned. That way we can kill two birds with one stone since B.O. and his czars are worried about over populating their Mother Gaia anyway.

      Report this comment

      NOT A CRAZY  
  • searching for the Truth
    Posted on December 19, 2012 at 9:37am

    I would say – yes, because I have known them to swoop down on other objects as well.

    Report this comment

    searching for the Truth  
  • Pablo
    Posted on December 19, 2012 at 9:35am

    The Toronto Star is reporting that police in Montreal say that no one has called in a report about the alleged attempted abduction.

    Are they supposed to arrest the eagle for attempted kidnapping or attempted murder?

    Report this comment

    Pablo  

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