WHATCOM COUNTY, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – A bald eagle is recovering after it was found with a gruesome injury in Whatcom County.

The Progressive Animal Welfare Society, or PAWS, says the Whatcom Humane Society Wildlife Rehabilitation Center transferred the bird to its Lynwood facility at the end of March.

X-rays showed that the eagle had been shot in the face at some point.

The wildlife team discovered metal fragments lodged in the back of the bird’s jaw, which caused his bill to misalign.

To fix it, they carefully reshaped his bill and fitted him with a specialized headgear to correct the alignment over time.

Despite the injury usually being a “death sentence” in the wild, PAWS says the eagle has been responding well to treatment and hopes remain high that he’ll be able to return to the wild.

The Whatcom Humane Society has not responded to My Bellingham Now for additional comment on the eagle’s discovery.