Big bird gets talon caught in DC Metro escalator

[December 15, 2009]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- Every so often in the Washington Metro subway system, a foot gets caught in an escalator.

Usually, the culprit is a shoe lace or a flip-flop. On Monday, it was a bird's talon. D.C. fire department spokesman Pete Piringer says rescuers were called to the Benning Road station in northeast Washington shortly after 8 a.m. Monday. A large bird of prey -- possibly a hawk or a falcon -- had its foot stuck in the escalator.

Metro employees shut off the power, and a passer-by held the bird to keep it from injuring itself more. When firefighters arrived, they removed a portion of the escalator to free the bird.

Piringer says that despite a slightly injured foot, the bird flew to the top of a nearby gas station, where it sat for a while before continuing on its way.

[Associated Press]

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