Wounded bald eagle back in wild in Vt.

Bald eagles are protected from hunting by state and federal laws. State and federal wildlife criminal investigators are continuing their search for the person who shot the bird. A $2,500 reward has been offered.

Eisenhauer said the immature male bald eagle had two broken bones in its wing. The bones were set and the bird cared for at the institute.

After several weeks, the bird was moved to a special enclosed area large enough for it to fly. Once officials felt it was strong enough to survive on its own, it was released.

Eisenhauer said the bird was too young to have the white head and tail that bald eagles are known for, but it was unclear if it was born this season or last year. It didn’t have a leg band, so officials couldn’t tell where it was hatched.

For almost a decade, the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife has been working to restore a breeding population of eagles to the state. There were several false starts. But for the first time in 60 years, a young eagle was hatched last year and raised to the point where it could fly from its nest and begin a life on its own.

This year, nine eagle pairs nested in Vermont, successfully raising five young, said John Buck, the biologist in charge of Vermont’s migratory bird project.

Eisenhauer said it probably cost several hundred dollars to rehabilitate the Troy eagle.

Buck said its care was paid for with money from the department’s nongame and wildlife fund.

While the injured eagle was being care for, people worked hard to ensure it retained its fear of humans.

And the bird was never given a nickname.

“Its name was bald eagle,’’ Eisenhauer said. “We don’t want people to ever get the impression these birds are like pets.’’