Injured bald eagle returns to wild

Found about 10 months ago with blood on it and unable to fly, a bald eagle was returned to the wild Wednesday in Madison County.

With a group of media and personnel from the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks as well as the Jackson Zoo watching, the bird took flight, only to land a short distance away. After a few moment of surveying the landscape, the bird once again took flight and landed high in a tree about 120 yards away. That flight drew cheers.

"We were able to do a release today to get the eagle back into its natural environment," MDWFP Wildlife Bureau Director Chad Dacus said. "You know it's really a great thing for us to be able to rehab eagles in a situation like this."

"Sometimes when they get brought in to rehabilitators, they may be at a stage where they can't be rehabilitated. Their injuries may be too severe where they can't be rehabilitated."

According to initial reports, the eagle was found by a hunter at the Three Prong Hunting Club near Sand Hill in Rankin County. X-rays at North State Street Animal Hospital revealed shotgun pellets lodged in the skin, but it was not considered to be a recent injury. The bird was then released to the Jackson Zoo for rehabilitation.

"We had to hold the bird for a long time for some wounds to heal and feather growth," said Donna Todd of the Jackson Zoo veterinary clinic. "There was no need for treatment after the initial exam. It just took some time for it to heal."

According to Angela Harris of the Jackson Zoo, the eagle is one of many raptors the zoo has helped over the years.

"We have a raptor rehab program that's been active since the '80s," Harris said. "So, we work with all different kinds of birds of prey.

"So, for this eagle, the main thing was just getting it healthy again, rehabbing the wing so any injuries or any spots that are just a little, need some work, we work with that."

During that process, the eagle was in a cage large enough to allow for flight, but still limited in range. Todd speculated the eagle may not have initially soared because he wasn't sure how far he could fly.

"He's been in a flight cage for about 10 months," Todd said. "So, he probably wanted to scope things out and see where he could fly."

Though not common, bald eagles and other raptors are found injured or dead from gunshots, and MDWFP conservation officer Randy Newell warned against it.

"These animals are not only the symbol of the U.S., they are state and federally protected," Newell said. "Leave these animals alone."

Contact Brian Broom at (601) 961-7225 or bbroom@gannett.com. Follow @BrianBroom on Twitter.