Sick Bald Eagle Rehabilitated, Released Into Wild

JORDAN, Minn. (WCCO) -- It was about a month ago when the custodian of St. John the Baptist Catholic School in Jordan, Minn. found a bald eagle lying on the ground.

The University of Minnesota Raptor Center then took the sick eagle to their clinic.

On Friday the eagle returned to Jordan where the children who named it Spirit got to see that it's now healthy.

"All it wanted to do was sleep," Raptor Center volunteer Terry Headley told the children. "So we're not exactly sure what was wrong with it."

Experts at the Raptor Center think Spirit may be about 5 years old, and aren't sure if it's male or female.

Spirit had become dehydrated, and had some decomposing food stuck in part of its throat.

"Body-wise, it was in good condition, it must not have been lying behind the church very long," Headley said.

Terry says Spirit perked up on the third day, and after more rehabilitation and observation, this aerial hunter was ready to come back home.

St. John's custodian Marty Huss then got to release the American symbol of freedom.

"The kids just loved it," Huss said. "They were praying for this bird for the last month, that it would be able to come back because we've seen its mate soaring above the school every day waiting for the return."