A bald eagle who became famous as one of the co-stars of the Southwest Florida Eagle Cam has passed away.
Ozzie the bald eagle, one of Florida's most celebrated birds, passed away Tuesday night at the Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife in Sanibel.
Ozzie was brought to CROW on Sunday after he was found weak and injured in a North Fort Myers backyard. He had multiple severe lacerations, a broken toe in each foot, was unable to stand and was fighting a bacterial blood infection.
"We would like to thank everyone for their support and unwavering belief in CROW during Ozzie’s rehabilitation and recent stay. Your endless words of encouragement carried the CROW staff through challenging times," the organization said in a statement Wednesday. "Ozzie was beloved patient and this is a difficult time for staff and that spent countless hours caring for him."
Officials said it's likely Ozzie suffered the injuries in a fight with another bald eagle near the nest which was documented on the Eagle Cam Facebook page. It was also reported that he had been entangled in barbwire.
A necropsy will be performed on Ozzie at the University of Georgia.
