Injured Eagle Found In Darien Dies

CHICAGO (CBS) -- An injured bald eagle found on the side of the road in southwest suburban Darien has died of its injuries, and officials have determined the bird was the same eagle shot in Oak Lawn last year.

Two Illinois Department of Transportation workers found the bird on the Cass Avenue exit ramp off Interstate 55 on Tuesday.

The eagle was taken to the Willowbrook Wildlife Center in Glen Ellyn for treatment, but it died overnight.

Dr. Jennifer Nevis, a veterinarian at Willowbrook, said it initially appeared the eagle was hit by a car, as it had suffered head trauma, as well as scrapes and bruises on its wings and feet. However, after Nevis performed a necropsy on Wednesday, she found no signs of internal trauma, and officials now suspect it might have suffered from West Nile virus, and its injuries were the likely result of "being on the ground and unable to fly for some time," according to a statement from the wildlife center.

The bald eagle had a U.S. Fish and Wildlife tag, and after officials checked the code on the tag, they determined it was the same eagle brought to Willowbrook in February 2014, after it had been shot in Oak Lawn. It was unclear if someone shot the eagle on purpose, or on accident. At the time, it was treated for malnourishment and a broken wing, and released into the wild two months later.

The wildlife center said the bird has been taken to the University of Illinois, for more thorough testing to determine the cause of death, including tests for West Nile virus, bird flu, and Newcastle disease -- an acute virus affecting birds.

Sandy Fejt of the Willowbrook Wildlife Center says the eagles remains will be sent to Native Americans in the Southwest so it's feathers can be used for ceremonial purposes.