Wildlife Center of Virginia to release treated bald eagle at Belle Isle State Park

WAYNESBORO, Va. (WRIC) -- The Wildlife Center of Virginia will be publicly releasing a bald eagle back into the wild on Thursday afternoon.

The free event will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, March 13, at the Belle Isle State Park visitor center in Lancaster County. According to the center, visitors can view a presentation about the center's work with bald eagles before the bird's release back into the wild.

The adult bald eagle, which arrived on Jan. 26, received six weeks of treatment and care at the center after fighting with another eagle, causing it to crash-land on the ice in Northumberland County.

After beginning daily flight exercises to gain its strength back, the eagle was cleared for release yesterday.

According to the Wildlife Center of Virginia, the eagle suffered from a left shoulder fracture and high levels of lead in its system. After the veterinary team treated the bird with anti-inflammatories, pain medication and chelation therapy, the bird's fracture healed, and the lead was cleared from its system within weeks.

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)

Anyone interested in attending can RSVP by filling out this form.

For more information on the release, visit the Wildlife Center's website.