Eagle hit by car in Clearwater returned to wild

The American bald eagle that was struck and injured by a car in Clearwater nearly two months ago has been rehabilitated and was released back into the wild on Tuesday.

The Owl's Nest Sanctuary for Wildlife worked with Busch Gardens Tampa Bay and Nature World Wildlife to nurse the eagle back to health. 

The eagle was struck by a car on Countryside Blvd. near Westfield Countryside Mall Oct. 5 while trying to eat the remains of a dead animal in the road. 

Firefighters and police protected the bird by closing the lane and standing around it to shield it from traffic until wildlife rescuers could get there. 

After nearly two months of rehabilitation, the eagle began to fly again at Busch Gardens.

The eagle was released at Lake Chautauqua Park, near where the eagle was found.