<\/p>\n
A golden eagle hit by a car last summer was released back into the wild east of Durango after being rehabbed by Colorado Parks and Wildlife staff for almost a year.<\/p>\n
CPW spokesman Joe Lewandowski said the eagle flew into a car near Gem Village in June, breaking the windshield.<\/p>\n
Fortunately, no bones were broken, confirmed by an X-ray. But internal injuries took months to heal.<\/p>\n
Lewandowski said wildlife biologists suspect the bird also suffered a head injury. For months, the female golden eagle showed no interest in flying.<\/p>\n
But about a month ago, that all changed. The eagle was placed in a flight cage at the Frisco Creek Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in Del Norte and started to spread its wings.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt finally got in pretty good shape,\u201d Lewandowski said. \u201cIt\u2019s a healthy bird.\u201d<\/p>\n
The 13-pound eagle was released last week near where it was injured, and hopefully, it will recognize its surroundings and return to its natural behaviors.<\/p>\n
Lewandowski said the eagle flew off, landed on a tree, and then went out of sight. But that doesn\u2019t mean wildlife officials have lost its trail.<\/p>\n
CPW staff placed a transmitter on the bird as part of a tracking study that aims to tag eight bald and\/or golden eagles<\/a> in Durango to gain a better understanding of the birds\u2019 migration and behavior habits.<\/p>\n \u201cHaving another bird with a transmitter adds to the database,\u201d Lewandowski said.<\/p>\n