An intense 20-minute battle for survival between a Canada Goose and a bald eagle on the frozen waters of Lake Ontario has captivated Canadians—both as a rare wildlife spectacle and an uncanny symbol of escalating tensions between Canada and the United States.
Photographer Mervyn Sequeira, a 74-year-old Ontario-based nature enthusiast, was near LaSalle Marina in Burlington on February 23 when he spotted the unfolding clash. Armed with his camera, he watched as a bald eagle—the national bird of the U.S—swooped down toward a lone Canada Goose stranded on the ice. What followed was a fierce battle of predator versus prey.
For close to 20 minutes, the eagle launched multiple attacks, attempting to overpower the goose, while the goose fought back with everything it had. In a surprising turn, the eagle eventually gave up and flew away, allowing the goose to live another day.
Sequeira shared the dramatic sequence on Instagram (@msequeiraphotography), noting the deeper significance of what he had witnessed. "Very symbolic," he told CBC Hamilton, referencing the ongoing trade disputes between Canada and the U.S. that have kept tensions high in recent months.
But the goose’s victory was bittersweet. Sequeira observed that the bird showed clear signs of avian influenza, a deadly virus that has devastated bird populations across North America, including bald eagles. "It survived the encounter with the eagle but would certainly soon succumb to the virus, the injuries, and the cold," he wrote.
While nature’s battles often go unseen, this rare encounter has struck a chord far beyond the frozen lake—offering both a stunning glimpse into the wild and a powerful, if unintended, political metaphor.
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