A bald eagle struck by a car has been given a new lease on life through a Toms River man's rehabilitation efforts.

Don Bonica, who operates the federally licensed Toms River Avian Care from his backyard, took in the eagle a month ago after it was hit on Route 18 near Shark River Hills.

After weeks of care, Bonica and his volunteer assistant Blake Allen released the eagle at Cattus Island County Park in Toms River.

"It's very emotional times. People say see the eye of the eagle. My wife and I have looked into the eye of the eagle many times we release them back into the wild. It's an interesting and very emotional thing to do, very rewarding at times," says Bonica.

He noted that over 45 years, his family has rehabilitated more than 60,000 birds of various species.