A rehabilitated female bald eagle flew to freedom March 20 on a section of the Green River, west of Flaming Geyser State Park.

Dr. Jan White, a veterinarian and founder of South Sound Critter Care, and Lisa Horn, executive director of West Sound Wildlife Shelter, met at Coates Christmas Tree Farm, east of Auburn, to release the eagle.

White said the bird had been injured a few months earlier near the spot she was release back into the wild.

The eagle was taken in by South Sound Critter Care and later transferred to West Sound Wildlife Shelter on Bainbridge Island.

South Sound Critter Care is at 28727 216th Ave. SE near Lake Sawyer and south of Covington. The facility is a licensed general wildlife center principally serving King and Pierce counties. It is dedicated to the care, rehabilitation and release of orphaned and injured wildlife.

White and Tigger Birch, a licensed veterinarian technician, opened critter care in 2009 and it has consistently grown since. Mammals, reptiles and birds are cared for at the facility. Critter care’s website estimates 4,000 animals are taken in during the course of a year. Much of the work is done by volunteers, and the cost is covered by donations, grants and fundraising events.

White wrote in an email the eagle released March 20 was “transferred to West Sound Wildlife Shelter for flight training. (Eagles) require very large and expensive flight cages.”

A fundraising event for critter care is 1 to 4 p.m. April 19 at Foster Golf Links, 13500 Interurban Ave. S., Tukwila. Tickets are $20. For information, call 206-778-1680.