The shooting of a bald eagle, a federally protected species, in East Tennessee has prompted an investigation by state and federal wildlife officials, who are offering a $10,000 reward to any information on the shooter.

In November, the iconic bird was first found in the Cherokee National Forest in Monroe County, shot in both the leg and wing and with a bullet still lodged in her body, according to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA), who found the injured eagle.

"It was most likely flying overhead when they shot at it. It was not something that was an unintentional thing. Somebody intended to shoot this bird," Joe Pike, a wildlife officer with TWRA, told WVLT.

Remarkably, the bird survived the shooting and is currently recovering at the American Eagle Foundation in Pigeon Forge. Officials hope that the bird can be returned to the wild within the next year.

"Her injury has progressed to a point where she can start exercising it and start learning how to fly again," noted Julia Cecere, with the American Eagle Foundation.

Bald eagles range throughout the lower 48 states and Mexico, the only eagle unique to North America, according to Defenders of Wildlife. The population in the United States once numbered between 300,000-500,000 in the 18th century, and then drastically dropped to just 500 nesting pairs in the 1950s.

These birds vanished largely due to DDT exposure, a pesticide that led to thinning egg shells.

Thanks in part to the banning of DDT in the 1960s, populations of North American bald eagles are making a comeback, and so far have rebounded to about 70,000 individuals. Thus, the species was removed from the endangered species list in 2007. However it still remains federally protected under the federal Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

And when it comes to violating the protection of the bald eagle, a national symbol of freedom and strength, officials take matters very seriously. Shooting a bald eagle carries a penalty of up to $100,000 and up to one year in prison.

And in regard to this latest case, a $10,000 reward is up for grabs for anyone with information leading to a conviction of the person or persons responsible for shooting the eagle, including $5,000 by The Humane Society of the United States and the Humane Society Wildlife Land Trust.

"We still believe in the principles of our founding fathers and God and country. We're a pretty patriotic bunch. Apparently now, we have someone who is targeting and trying to kill our national symbol and that's un-American and unacceptable to us," Pike said.

Anyone with information concerning the shooting of this eagle is asked to call Special Agent Bo Stone at (865) 692-4024, or Monroe County Wildlife Officer Pike with the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency at (800) 262-6704 or (931) 484-9571.

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