Adolescent bald eagle found injured and abandoned in a ditch Sunday morning

VAN BUREN COUNTY, Mich. -- A bald eagle is recovering with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources this week after it was found abandoned in a Hamilton Township ditch on Nov. 3.

Van Burne County Sheriff Office deputies say the call came in around 9:35 a.m. near C.R. 681 and 72nd Avenue when a passerby spotted the bird, which appeared to be injured.

"After speaking with residents in the area it was determined the eagle had been there for a couple of days," deputies said. "Deputies on scene made contact with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to come to the scene to assist. Once the DNR officer arrived on scene it was confirmed that the bird in fact was an adolescent bald eagle, and they were able to safely capture the bird without injuring it further."

The eagle was taken by the DNR to a rescue/rehabilitation center.