But the bird, with a damaged leg dangling, didn't take the bait. On Thursday afternoon, the eagle finally moved within reach, and rescuers dashed to capture the bird for transport to The Raptor Trust in Millington for treatment.

"I can't even begin to emphasize how impossible this was," said Giselle Smisko, director of the Avian Wildlife Center in Wantage. "We just really got lucky."

The initial assessment of the injured eagle raised concerns and more tests are needed, said Raptor Trust Director Chris Soucy.

"It's not in great shape honestly," Soucy said.

Rescuers splinted the leg and the bird awaits surgery, Soucy said. Blood was found inside its mouth, and X-rays are need to diagnose any other injuries. Soucy said the bald eagle is alert, strong and responding to sounds. Its ability to still fly is another positive sign.

Smisko said just capturing the bald eagle to give it a chance for treatment and rehabilitation was a feat after days of effort.

Neighbors first saw the bald eagle on Monday and alerted homeowner Courtney Heath to the bird stationed in her backyard tree, Heath told CBS3 in Philadelphia.

"It was exciting," Heath told the Philadelphia CBS affiliate. "I pulled in my driveway on Monday and my neighbor came over and told me her chickens that morning had alerted her."

The residents soon realized the bird had an injured leg and had not moved from the backyard. They alerted the state Department of Environmental Protection's Division of Fish and Wildlife, which also brought The Raptor Trust and Avian Wildlife Center to assist in the capture effort.

Using fish, a squirrel and "a few other things" as bait, Soucy set a spring-loaded trap nearby and waited, but for three days the bird wouldn't budge. Bald eagles can go several days without eating and Soucy wasn't sure if the injury prevented the bird from moving or if it simply wasn't hungry yet.

Then on Thursday, Smisko and her team arrived at the home on Shy Creek Road to monitor the trap, and the eagle took off after being spooked by a neighbor.

"It certainly didn't happen as planned," Smisko said. "We thought he was gone. There was no way we could get him if he stayed at that height, then crows came into the picture."

Crows, who see the bald eagle as a predator, started dive bombing the injured bird and forced it closer to the ground, Smisko said.

At that point the chase was on.

Smisko and volunteer Katie Besbris ran through yards and over fences until the bald eagle landed on the ground. They were able to cover it with two blankets and safely capture it.

"It was exhausted, we were equally exhausted, and all we had with us were two blankets," Smisko said. "We got close and it started to move so we rushed it, and then we had control."

The bald eagle, which was not banded or tracked, is an adult, but its age and gender isn't known due to its current state.

The Raptor Trust brings in nearly 4,000 wild birds each year from red tail hawks to backyard cardinals, and Soucy said education is an important part of rehabilitation.

Both organizations suggest that if you find an injured bird, contact the Division of Fish and Wildlife.

"Their injuries are often because of interactions with people like windows or soccer nets, and as a species we have a responsibility to fix that if we're the cause," he said.

Smisko said injured birds often elude capture and to lose one during a rescue is devastating.

"We're really pleased with ourselves, and surgery is the next big thing for him so we're hoping for the best," Smisko said. "He has some fight in him."