WILLIAMSON — Steve Hicks, director of Bubba and Friends Inc., released a bald eagle at The Pines Golf Club Saturday.

At around 10:20 a.m., he opened the cage in the back of his truck as a small crowd gathered around. The juvenile female, named Miss America, shot out of the cage, circled around the lake and roosted in a nearby tree. The crowd followed after her, taking pictures as the eagle flew out over the tennis court and was gone.

“She brought the whole golf course to a standstill when she left,” Hicks said.

According to a press release describing the background of the situation, deer hunters in Laurens County heard a noise in the brush and, upon investigating, discovered Miss America.

She lay on her side with both legs drawn up into her chest and both feet balled up. The hunters took her to Laurens Wildlife Rescue Inc., whose director took her to Smalley’s Animal Hospital in Dublin. After an examination, it was determined her paralysis resulted from ingesting a toxic substance.

Hicks said he did not know what poisoned the eagle. It could have been poisoned carcasses intended for coyotes, agricultural chemicals or toxic waste that had been dumped. It is possible Miss America fed on the corpse of an animal killed consuming the toxin — many poisons do not break down but instead travel up the food chain.

From Laurens Wildlife Rescue, Miss America was taken to Pike County. By that point, she could stand and react but it took some time before she could successfully perch. She was soon able to eat on her own and eat she did.

“When she was with us, she probably consumed about 15-20 pounds of food,” he said.

Hicks was not entirely sure if the eagle’s emergence from the cage would go well. Miss America might have hesitated upon emerging or still suffered residual damage from the chemicals that poisoned her.

“It went real well,” he said. “I am thoroughly impressed with her performance.”

Hicks said Miss America will continue to wander until she reaches four years of age and develops the classic white head and tail of a bald eagle.

“She might hang around here a few weeks, move somewhere else or follow the Flint down to the Gulf of Mexico.”

Hicks encouraged people to keep an eye out for the eagle, which despite weighing only seven pounds, 14 ounces, has a wingspan of six and a half feet.

“If anyone happens to see her get into a jam, please call us,” he said.

Hicks may be reached at 770-567-1852.