After two months of treatment and care, Bald Eagle #25-1783 returned to the wild on July 20, 2025.
This adult Bald Eagle was admitted to the Center on May 26 after he was hit by a vehicle in Middlesex County. On admission, our veterinary team found that the eagle had a fractured coracoid, a critical bone in a bird’s shoulder that supports flight. Bloodwork also revealed high levels of lead in the bird's system. The lead poisoning may have caused the eagle to have neurologic impairment and coordination issues, predisposing him to the collision.
After one month of treatment and care, the eagle's fracture had healed, and the lead had been removed from his system. In early July, the eagle began undergoing daily flight exercises with our rehabilitation team to rebuild his strength; by July 15, he was officially cleared for release!
The Bald Eagle was successfully released at Belle Isle State Park on Sunday, July 20, in front of a crowd of about 150 people. Director of Outreach Connor said, “The eagle was ready to go! As soon as we opened the crate, he took flight and flew over the river and out of sight.”
Stay tuned to see more photos and videos from the release!
