A juvenile bald eagle photographed at Wethersfield Cove in Connecticut was carrying a half-eaten slice of pepperoni pizza. Wildlife photographer Doug Gemmell captured the March 8, 2023 encounter, but he did not identify the object until he reviewed the photographs at home.
What the eagle was carrying
The object in the eagle’s talon was a half-eaten pepperoni pizza slice. The bird swooped toward a DMV parking lot, seized the slice and flew away. Four crows then chased it, apparently interested in the same food.
The available reports do not establish whether the eagle eventually ate the pizza. Gemmell told PetaPixel, “I don’t know if he even was able to eat the pizza because the crows wanted that slice as well.”
Where and when the photograph was taken
Gemmell photographed the sequence at Wethersfield Cove in Wethersfield, Connecticut, on March 8, 2023. He had gone there specifically to photograph eagles and was hoping for action such as fishing or aerial play.
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How Gemmell discovered the unusual detail
The decisive moment was partly hidden by a snowbank, so Gemmell did not immediately see what the bird had grabbed. He photographed the eagle as it approached the ground and recognized the food only while reviewing and cropping the images later.
As he told LiveNOW from FOX, “I didn’t know it was a pizza until I got home.” He also joked, “It’s America’s bird, and it likes pizza.” Gemmell told PetaPixel, “An eagle grabbing a pizza lends itself to fun conversation.”
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Who took the eagle-with-pizza picture?
The photographer is Doug Gemmell, whose work is credited to Doug Gemmell Nature Photography. The original 2023 photographs document a real encounter; they are not a digitally generated scene.
Why some versions online are misleading
A later viral repost used a separate eagle image in which the pizza had been digitally added. That altered picture should not be treated as the original Wethersfield Cove photograph. When sharing the story, look for the Doug Gemmell Nature Photography credit and distinguish the authentic sequence from edited reposts.
The camera and lens used
PetaPixel reported that Gemmell used a Nikon D500 with an AF-S NIKKOR 200-500mm lens. This setup is a useful reference for photographing distant wildlife, but the report does not establish that it is the only or best equipment for eagle photography.
What that combination offers
- Reach: The 200-500mm zoom can fill the frame with a bird that remains far from the photographer, while allowing some flexibility as the subject changes distance.
- Autofocus and bursts: A wildlife-oriented camera such as the D500 can be paired with continuous autofocus and high-speed shooting for unpredictable flight movements.
- Practical limits: A long lens is heavy and can be difficult to maneuver quickly. Low light, cluttered backgrounds and obstructions—such as the snowbank in this sequence—can still hide the critical detail.
What this incident does—and does not—show
The photograph proves that this individual bald eagle picked up a discarded slice of human food. It does not provide a statistic about how often bald eagles take pizza or other human foods, and the published accounts do not tie the event to a formal study of eagle diet or behavioral adaptation.
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The safest conclusion is simply that a juvenile bald eagle in Connecticut briefly carried a pizza slice, then faced competition from crows. The unusual subject made the image memorable, while the photographer’s delayed discovery explains why the story surprised him as much as it surprised viewers.
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