© 2026 Peoria Public Radio
A joint service of Bradley University and Illinois State University
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations

U of Illinois' Rescued Eagle Gets a Name: River

http://vetmed.illinois.edu/

AP - A bald eagle that's taken up residence at the University of Illinois Wildlife Medical Clinic now has a lifelong reminder of the moment it was rescued from the Illinois River with an injured wing. The eagle now has a name: River.

It comes from Kimberly Weber, of Memphis, Tennessee. Weber's was the winning entry in a contest to name the bird.

The bird will stay at the clinic because the amputation of part of its injured wing made it impossible to release it to the wild. 

The name River beat out suggestions like Liberty and humorous entries like Flies in Circles and Leftie.