Bald Eagle Feared Injured Turns Out to Be Healthy, Just 'Too Fat to Fly' After Big Meal

The bird was "engorged" after consuming a raccoon, according to wildlife officials

Wildlife officials worried that a bald eagle found on the ground near Wilson's Creek National Battlefield in Missouri was injured, but they later discovered the bird was just walking off a hefty meal.

On Aug. 21, the Wilson's Creek National Battlefield shared a Facebook post noting that the Missouri Department of Conservation recently found a bald eagle that appeared unable to fly by the park, located 175 miles outside of Kansas City, Mo.

"The bird, originally reported to be injured, was found to be healthy but engorged with raccoon," officials shared in the post, adding: "In other words, too fat to fly."

Local news outlets KAKE, KOMU, and the Kansas City Star reported on the incident.

Related: Bald Eagle Draws Attention in Security Checkpoint at North Carolina Airport: 'He's a Ham'

Based on the Wilson's Creek National Battlefield post, wildlife officials took the bald eagle for x-rays at Dickerson Park Zoo when they thought the bird was injured.

The x-rays showed no injuries but revealed that the eagle appeared to have recently consumed a whole raccoon, presumably roadkill. Images shared on Facebook show the raccoon paw that appeared on the eagle's X-ray and an X-ray of the bird's bloated stomach.

According to the post, once the bald eagle recovered from the feast and was deemed fit enough to return home, "the eagle was released near where it was found and in compliance with federal and state laws."

Related: Thousands Watch Eagle Couple Bicker Over Child Rearing Tactics While Waiting for Eggs to Hatch

The Facebook post from Wilson's Creek National Battlefield also included a photo of the bald eagle, no longer weighed down by a raccoon dinner, flying away after its release.

This isn't the first time a wild bird overindulged. In January 2020, an obese owl was put on a strict diet.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. 

The owl, nicknamed Plump, was rescued from a ditch in early 2020 and weighed a "rather chunky" 245 grams. Luckily, after a sanctuary regulated her food intake, the owl was healthy enough to spread its wings and fly.

According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), if someone ever discovers an injured bald eagle, they should report their findings to FWS law enforcement immediately.

For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.