As Saturday approached, the United States Military Academy revved up for a football game against the visiting Air Force Academy in West Point, N.Y., in a highly charged clash of rivals.

And with the rivalry came an idea of mischief.

But a scheme by West Point cadets to swipe two falcons belonging to the Air Force Academy ended with one of the birds bloodied, the start of an investigation and a public apology from West Point.

The episode began sometime on Friday night, Sam Dollar, the Air Force Academy’s falconry team adviser, said on Sunday.

Aurora, a 22-year-old gyrfalcon who is the academy’s official mascot, and Oblio, a Peregrine falcon about seven years younger, were taken by two West Point cadets.