Woodpecker Rescue

Occurred on May 16, 2025 / Collegeville, Pennsylvania, USA

Info from Licensor: "On Friday, May 16, 2025, I was driving to a doctors appointment. As I was driving up the road near home, I could see something on the road, but I couldn't see what.

I immediately stopped my car, engaged the 4 way flashers and began to approach the animal. Two cars were approaching in the oncoming lane, where this animal was immobilized. I waved to them, like, Hey!! don't run us over.

When I got closer, I saw that this was a magnificent Pileated Woodpecker. He (don't know what gender) was not moving, but I could not see any blood or visible injuries.

I brought him into my vehicle with the full intentions of driving right to our local Wildlife Center, approximately 15 minutes away. I actually called the Wildlife Center and asked if I could bring him over, and they said yes.

He was sitting on my lap for about 5 minutes when he started to get his wings and move a little bit. I very slowly pulled into a church parking lot to evaluate the situation further. This is when he started fluttering around my car. I could not just open the window for him, as his feet and nails were right at the rubber edge of the window, and I would not take the chance of his feet or nails getting stuck or injured by the electric window.

I even opened my door, which may have scared him, as he jumped to the passenger side. This is where I didn't continue filming, because my sole concern was getting him into the World again. But, he did then fly out the passenger side window, and when he got about 50 feet away in the air, he pooped."