MAURERTOWN, Va. (AP) - A red-tailed hawk that had lead poisoning is set to be released back into the wild.
The Wildlife Center of Virginia says the hawk is scheduled to be released on Thursday at Shenandoah County Park in Maurertown. The event is free and open to the public.
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The Waynesboro-based Wildlife Center had been treating the hawk since Jan. 13, three days after it was found in a Page County field. High levels of lead were found in the hawk's blood, and small lead fragments were found in its stomach.
The Wildlife Center says more than 80 birds and other animals admitted for care since 2011 displayed signed of lead poisoning. Many are exposed to lead by ingesting shotgun pellets or bullet fragments.
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