Every spring, the community of Unalaska goes from fishing hub to war zone thanks to an unlikely enemy. Around this time each year, nesting eagles pose a dangerous problem in the small community of roughly 4,000 people that's better known for the reality TV show "The Deadliest Catch."
The aggressive nesting behavior of the 600-plus eagles swooping, circling and screeching above the island causes locals to keep a watchful eye toward the heavens. Health officials said that aggressive behavior is the cause of a "handful" of bloody casualties over each season. Iliuliuk Family and Health Services Executive Director Eileen Scott said most attack victims will receive about six stitches, usually to their heads.
"I know one lady who was attacked twice on the same day," said Scott, speaking in a thick Boston accent. "She went in, got cleaned up and taken care of, then was walking back to her house and the eagle got her again."
Unfortunately for the town's residents, two nests are located right outside the doors of important community resource centers -- the post office and the health clinic.
"I was actually in the clinic one day and this man came in with these big saucer eyes and told me that he was attacked, the eagle stole his hat, and said the city owed him a brand new one," said Unalaska Mayor of 10 years Shirley Marquardt.
The loss of headgear is common, though, according to Marquardt. She said there is a running joke in the community about all of the cap thefts locals suffer during nesting season. "If you could actually get close enough to see into a nest, it would be covered in all of these weird hats," she said chuckling.
According to Scott, eagles particularly love using knitted caps in their nests. To help prevent becoming a target she frequently warns people to avoid them completely.
And in an attempt to keep everyone on the rocky, rainy Aleutian island safe from the swarms of eagles in the skies above, signs exclaiming "Danger -- nesting eagles" are placed near rocky cliffs, an ideal location for a nest. Next to the bold, black lettering is a stenciled in image of a human with its hands above its head and an eagle with its talons out ready to attack.
The mayor said this ensures that everyone understands the potential harm the regal birds can cause.
But Marquardt said common-sense choices -- taught to local children from an early age -- keep people safe. Eagle safety knowledge is as common in the town as looking both ways before crossing the street or packing a can of bear spray when hitting the trail might be elsewhere around the state.
"When kids are little, we tell them if you hear one, or feel it swooping, don't look up," said Marquardt, who's lived in Unalaska for 33 years. "We tell them to put their head down and to cover the back of their head and neck with their arms."
The mayor hikes with her iPod turned down low so she can pay close attention to the ear-piercing sounds of eagle calls. Pet owners keep a watchful eye out for the predatory birds. And even the track team has a student eagle nest spotter who runs ahead of the pack and runs back if they spot a nest, at which point Scott said they will take a different trail.
Marquardt said it's expected that humans adjust to the birds and "anyone who's lived in Unalaska for any amount time at all has respect and understanding" for the eagles, and it's that mentality that allows the two species to coexist.