Wounded Bald Eagle Released Back to Wild

Officer Phillip Wire of the Illinois Conservation Police says, " To see something like that along the side of the shoreline, holding on to life - its extremely upsetting."

Karen Herdklotz  says, "Peace was shot. The fact of the matte5r is - a terribly bad broken wiong. Had external fixations on the side, and we we're hoping, but weren't sure."

Taken in by Conservation Police - a specially trained veternarian put Peace's wing back together. The people of Hoo Haven Wildlife Rehabilitation in Durand have been helping her since.

Hoo Haven owner Steve Herdklotz says,  "It's one of those processes that you have to take one step at a time. You have to fix everything and you have to hope the healing goes great.

And around six months later, they have Peace at Starved Rock State Park - ready to release her back in the wild.With a large crowd of onlookers - they opened the gate.

Karen Herdklotz says, "It is the best of the best. That is what it is all about. It goes to my very heart and soul that with doctors Harms and with the people that found her, that we could set her back free where she belongs."

Its the moment those who helped her have been waiting for. To finally see the Bald Eagle fly high once again.

Dr. Robert Harms says, " I've never seen a bald Eagle released like this. I always get the beginning part of the show, but I never get to see it, so it's very fulfilling."

Steve Herdklotz says, "To see Peace go out and take off like she did is just a fantastic feeling. It makes your heart so warm to see that the work you've done has paid off."

All the hard work - so that a national symbol can be free.

Officer Wire says, "To come back here today to see - it's just an amazing thing."

In LaSalle County, Andrew Barra - WMBD-31 News.

Shooting a bald Eagle is a federal crime.

Police still don't know who shot Peace.

And in case you were curious...her head feathers aren't white because she has not matured enough.