LEE COUNTY, Fla. -- Great news this morning for one of Southwest Florida's favorite friends with feathers! The baby of famed Southwest Florida Eagle Cam mama Harriet, the eaglet known as E8, has been released back into the wild after 3 months of rehab.
The eaglet had been recovering since May 13th at CROW animal hospital on Sanibel.
Back in May, E8 underwent surgery to repair a broken leg suffered when he was attacked by an owl at it's nest in Lee County.
Now E8 is not a stranger to being a patient at CROW. Back in early February, E8 was at the clinic after its leg became entangled in fishing line in the nest. He was at CROW for a few weeks before being released.
The people at CROW have been following this eagle since he hatched on January 27th, just one day after its sibling E7. Veterinarian staff at CROW say E8 is in top condition to be released since he's been capturing prey.
Late Wednesday, E8 was given his clearance to be released. He was set free just after 10:30 a.m. on private property in North Fort Myers.
E8 paused for a moment once the cage opened, but quickly took flight towards a tree a short distance away. It's unclear whether the eaglet will return to the Eagle Cam nest where he was hatched, or continue living on its own.
Fox 4's Sam Sosa showed us his release live on Facebook.
She will have a full report tonight on Fox 4 News at 6.
