Freedom the bald eagle returns home after treatment at MSU

EAST LANSING - Freedom — an American bald eagle found injured near Lake Odessa — returned home last week after more than a month at Michigan State University's Veterinary Medical Center.

The adult male arrived at MSU on July 1 with a fractured leg, said Jim Sikarskie, a wildlife veterinarian at the college. Landowners found the injured eagle near his nest in Lake Odessa. He and his mate were caring for two fledglings at the time, and he was not pleased to be away from his family.

"He was so mad the first few days and really wanted to hurt us," Sikarskie said.

A metal support was attached to his fractured leg shortly after arriving at MSU, taking pressure off the leg and allowing it to heal. Freedom was otherwise healthy, but unable to fly because bald eagles need all the help they can get to take off into the air, the MSU veterinarian said. The vet hospital sees three to four bald eagles every year, Sikarskie said, typically after being hit by cars while feeding on roadkill.

While Freedom was away, Ed Smith , who owns the land where the eagle's nest, brought food to the mother and fledglings to ensure they survived.

Freedom was released back in Lake Odessa on Aug. 15. He wasted no time leaving captivity once his cage was opened.

"He bolted right for the nest, where his babies (had) fledged very recently," Sikarskie said.

Neighbors have spotted Freedom and his family fishing together in recent days.

"It looks like the family came back together," Smith said.

A resurgence of bald eagles in Michigan has taken place since the banning of DDT and the formation of the Environmental Protection Agency, from 16 nesting pairs in the late 1960s to more than 800 today, Sikarskie said. Eagles don't tolerate human activity near their nests, he added, so people hoping to catch a glimpse should keep their distance.

Contact RJ Wolcott at (517) 377-1026 or rwolcott@lsj.com. Follow him on Twitter @wolcottr.