After a long shift on her feet, Ashley Souza was looking forward to a quiet evening.

She pulled into her driveway, ready to kick off her shoes and leave the day behind. But instead of slipping into routine, she stepped into something completely unexpected.

An Unexpected Guest

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Courtesy Ashley Souza
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There in her backyard, calm and unmistakable, stood a Bald Eagle. With its sharp features and wide wingspan, it seemed to have landed with purpose (in search for dinner) but it wasn’t the kind of visitor Ashley ever imagined encountering just steps from her door.

READ MORE: New Bedford Man Captures Bald Eagle Sighting Over Sassaquin Pond

A Quick Inspection

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Courtesy Ashley Souza
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The eagle’s attention was fixed on a squirrel that had already passed, unfortunately from something else besides the eagle. The bird approached the squirrel, gave it a few thoughtful glances, then decided it wasn’t worth the trouble. Perhaps the meat was rotten (which sounds strange for an eagle that mostly eats raw carcass), but without thinking twice, it left the squirrel untouched and soared off into the sky.

A Moment to Remember

Assonet, Bald Eagle, Backyard wildlife, Unexpected animal encounter, Eagle sighting, Massachusetts wildlife, Nature moment, Bird watching, Wildlife in suburbia, Backyard visitor, Ashley Souza, Squirrel and eagle, Local news Assonet, Animal behavior, Majestic bird sighting
Courtesy Ashley Souza
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The whole encounter was brief, but Souza stood there, taking it all in. It wasn’t dramatic or loud—just an unorthodox moment where something wild wandered into everyday life.

Later, as she settled down for the night, she thought back on the eagle—curious about the randomness of the moment, the size of the bird, and the strange, perfect timing of it all.

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