Badly injured bald eagle under care after 3-day rescue (WATCH)

A badly injured American is awaiting surgery after being rescued from a tree in Hunterdon county where it had been perched for at least three days.

Wildlife experts spent days attempting to lure the eagle, with an injured leg, from the perch, with little success. Finally, on Thursday afternoon, the bird moved close enough for rescuers from the Raptor Trust to grab it and send it for treatment, NJ Advance media reported.

According to NJ Advance Media, neighbors of Courtney Heath, in whose Alexandria, NJ backyard tree the eagle was perched, first saw the bird on Monday. State officials responded, along with The Raptor Trust and Avian Wildlife Center to try and capture the bird using bait ranging from fish to a squirrel, but the eagle refused to budge for days.

Chris Soucy, director of the Raptor Trust, told the publication that the eagle is "not in great shape." Immediately following the rescue, the bird's injured, dangling leg was splinted. Blood was found it it's mouth and the eagle was also in need of fluids. But the eagle remains alert and can respond to sounds.

Experts are working to rehabilitate the bald eagle, but because of its condition, NJ Advance Media stated, its age and gender are unknown. The Raptor Trust could not be reached for comment on the bird's condition as of Thursday evening.

Toniann Antonelli is the digital managing editor at NJ 101.5. Reach her at toniann.antonelli@townsquaremedia.com, or on Twitter @ToniRadio1015.