FRANKLIN COUNTY, Va. (rbs news now) — A bald eagle that was rescued in Rocky Mount after a brutal territorial fight will soon take flight once again.

The Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke announced that, in collaboration with the Wildlife Center of Virginia, the eagle will be released at Smith Mountain Lake Community Park, located at 1480 Park Way Avenue, Moneta, on Tuesday, October 14, at 1 p.m.

According to the center, the eagle was brought in on September 5, after suffering injuries during a fight with two younger eagles.

When it arrived, it was exhausted, weak, and barely able to lift its head.

The wildlife team provided immediate care, helping the bird slowly regain its strength.

The eagle was also found to have subclinical levels of lead poisoning, a common but serious issue for bald eagles and other raptors.

After days of rest and treatment, it was strong enough to fly again in the center’s 50-foot flight pen.

Because the center has been unable to build a larger 100-foot aviary due to ongoing lawsuits with neighboring property owners, the Wildlife Center of Virginia took over the final stage of rehabilitation.

There, the eagle completed flight conditioning and underwent additional treatment to remove lead from its system.

Now fully recovered, the eagle is ready to return to the wild after a journey that involved two rescues, two hospitals, and hundreds of miles of care.

The public is invited to attend the release and witness what the center calls “an unforgettable moment” as the once-injured eagle soars free again over Smith Mountain Lake.

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