Bald eagle released at Belle Isle State Park in Lancaster after injuries healed

LANCASTER COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- A bald eagle was released at Belle Isle State Park in Lancaster County on Thursday after six weeks of treatment and care at the Wildlife Center of Virginia.

On Thursday, March 13, the Wildlife Center of Virginia released a bald eagle back into the wild at Belle Isle State Park after it received treatment and care at its facility.

The adult bald eagle perching on a flight pen (Photo Courtesy: Wildlife Center of Virginia)

The adult bald eagle flying in a flight pen (Photo Courtesy: Wildlife Center of Virginia)

According to the center, the adult bald eagle, which arrived at the center on Jan. 26, was receiving care after it crash-landed on ice in Northumberland County following a fight with another eagle.

Officials said the bird suffered a fracture in its left coracoid, or shoulder, and a blood test revealed it had high levels of lead in its system.

After a couple of weeks of rest and treatment, the center reported that the eagle's fracture had healed, and the lead had been removed from its system.

In mid-February, the eagle started undergoing daily flight exercises with the center's rehab team to rebuild its strength and was officially cleared for release by March 10, according to officials.

In a Facebook post on Friday, March 14, the center said Director of Outreach Connor Gillespie had the honor of releasing the bald eagle back home on Thursday.

Gillespie reportedly 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."

According to the center, the eagle perched itself on the tree for about 15 minutes before taking flight and disappearing from the sight of viewers.