After six weeks of treatment and care, Bald Eagle #25-0150 returned to the wild on March 13, 2025, at Belle Isle State Park.
This adult Bald Eagle was admitted to the Center on January 26 from Northumberland County after it fought with another eagle and crash-landed on the ice. The bird suffered a left coracoid (shoulder) fracture, and a blood test revealed it also had high levels of lead in its system. Our vet team started the eagle on anti-inflammatories, pain medication, and chelation therapy to remove the lead.
After a couple of weeks of rest and treatment, the eagle's fracture had healed, and the lead was removed from its system. In mid-February, the eagle started undergoing daily flight exercises with our rehab team to rebuild its strength; by March 10, the eagle was officially cleared for release!
Director of Outreach Connor Gillespie had the honor of releasing the Bald Eagle back home. A large crowd gathered at Belle Isle to celebrate the bird’s successful rehabilitation and witness its return to the wild.
Connor noted that the eagle was “definitely ready to go! As soon as we opened the crate door, it flew out quickly—away from the crowd, over the water, and into a tree on the far bank of the Rappahannock River." The eagle perched there for about 15 minutes before taking off and disappearing from sight.
Check out the release photos!
