Last August, Time took some photographs of a bird-brained, predatory beast to add a bit of color to its Person of the Year line-up. A bald eagle was also present.

The eagle, a 27-year-old living metaphor by the name of Uncle Sam, appears to have nearly bit his new friend’s notoriously stumpy fingers off in an effort to fulfill every sane American’s current dream.

Though Sam may have flown away fingerless that day, we’ll alway have the GIFs.


Contact the author at ashley@gawker.com. GIFs via Time.