They aren’t all happy endings at Wings of Wonders.

Earlier this spring, the bird rehab center in Empire was brought into the case of an adult bald eagle who was hit by a car south of Mesick. The big female was likely 6 years old or older, believes center director Rebecca Lessard.

Eagle hit by car

“Who ever hit it never stopped. A carload of young teens found the bird, and went the extra mile to do the right thing,” she said.

The eagle never had a chance by the time it was brought to the Traverse City field office of the DNR, having had its spine broken. Shortly after Lessard examined the eagle, it had to be put down.

The decision was easy — there was no alternative — but Lessard was still touched by the loss. “That was terrible,” she remembered.

Lessard has been working with raptors since 1990. Wings of Wonders has been a non-profit corporation since 2001.

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