Cherokee was found as an orphaned youngster in northern California. She was going to be released, but it was decided against. When the handlers would go to feed, it was noticed that she was not associating with the other golden eagles. She was also showing aggression towards the handlers and would try to get food from them. She was determined non-releasable as a human imprint and sent to the American Eagle Foundation (formerly National Foundation to Protect America's Eagles).This means that she does not recognize that she is a bird. She thinks that she is a human.

Cherokee is a large bird with enormous feet, hence her nickname "Big Foot". When she first arrived, she would jump to the ground, go up to the door and club the door with her "big foot" to get our attention. She is a very curious bird and treats all new situations with this curiosity. Nothing seems to frighten her. She loves to tear up things, so she is given plenty of tennis balls, pieces of turf, and sticks with which to "play".

Cherokee is a star in the Wings of America show at Dollywood. She is greeted with awe every time she enters the stage. Magnificent, beautiful, intelligent, humorous, and impressive are all thoughts that come to mind when one things of Big Foot.