Injured Eagle Rescued From Wawa Parking Lot In Stafford County

STAFFORD COUNTY, VA — A bald eagle was rescued from a Stafford County parking lot on Monday morning, according to the Stafford County Sheriff's Office. Authorities believe the bird was hit by a car.

The Stafford County Sheriff's Office said deputies found the eagle in the Wawa parking lot on Austin Park Drive. The bird was unable to fly.

"The eagle will be headed for care and hopefully be released back in Stafford County soon," the sheriff's office wrote on Facebook.

Most bald eagles in the region receive medical treatment at the Virginia Wildlife Center in Waynesboro. They currently have two bald eagles already in their care, including another eagle that was likely hit by a vehicle.

One eagle that was found in Chesapeake City had high-levels of lead in its body. Experts believe that ingesting lead can increase the likelihood that an eagle will be hit by a vehicle.

In the 1960s and 1970s, bald eagles were endangered in the United States. The National Eagle Center notes that the eagle population declined due to chemicals introduced into the ecosystem that decreased the strength of their eggshells. In 2007, bald eagles were removed from the Federal Endangered Species List.

Injured wild animals in Stafford County can be reported to the sheriff's office animal control division. Animal control resources can be reached by calling 540-658-7387.