Watch as injured bald eagle is released back into Virginia wild after a year of treatment

A bald eagle with a severely injured wing has been released back into the wild a year after her rescue in Chesapeake, Virginia.

The bald eagle soared into the air on Oct. 18 as the wildlife officials responsible for her care looked on. A gathered crowd cheered as she flew away following the release in the Oak Grove Lake Park, about 10 miles outside of Norfolk, Virginia.

"She tried to die on us multiple times," said Ed Clark, president of the Wildlife Center of Virginia, which nursed the eagle back to health.

"It really is a testament to the tenacity of our staff, the skill and expertise they bring to bear, that this bird is returning to Chesapeake, hopefully to pick up life in the wild where she left off," he said.

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Bald eagle had 'a litany of injuries' when she was found

The eagle, who weighs approximately 10 pounds and has not been named, had a "litany of injuries" when she was found, Clark said.

She appeared to be in high spirits ahead of her release, captured in a video posted to Facebook.

"Never a dull moment," Clark said as he held the squawking eagle minutes before letting her fly to freedom.

The eagle "flew confidently into the sky and stuck around for a while, circling above the trees," said Lauren Glaze, outreach communications coordinator of the wildlife center.

Clark said that the location of the release was chosen because it's close to where the eagle was originally found.

"There are eagles here, there is water here," said Clark. "It's good habitat, so she can get reoriented."

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Recovery and rehabilitation

Animal control officers with the City of Chesapeake found the bald eagle on the ground on Oct. 27, 2022. She was unable to fly because of a severely injured wing, according to the wildlife center.

Wildlife officials assumed she had been hit by a car but an exam revealed that she was suffering from lead poisoning. Veterinarians theorize that the poisoning caused a corneal ulcer in her left aye and a large necrotic wound near the elbow on her left wing that caused her to become uncoordinated and collide with a car.

In the video of her release, Clark said they believe she was poisoned while scavenging roadkill, which is becoming an increasingly common practice for bald eagles.

Seventy of the 56 bald eagles admitted to the center this year had lead poisoning, said Clark, explaining that lead enters the eagles' blood system after they scavenge animals that have been shot with lead bullets.

He urged hunters and other to use alternatives to prevent other animals from suffering or dying.

"Because this was her wing that was affected, she lost a lot of muscle mass while she was healing from her wound that was on her elbow," said Olivia Schiermeyer, a veterinarian who helped care for the eagle.

Over the past year, the eagle received several treatments and surgeries, says the center. Her nutrition was monitored to ensure that she heals properly.

"It was the first time I saw her fly," Schiermeyer said. "I wanted to cry. It feels so good to see her fly away."

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Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at [email protected] and follow her on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter @saman_shafiq7.