Missing owl found dead near Minnesota Zoo

The Minnesota Zoo says an owl that had escaped earlier this month has died after being found injured on the side of the road.

The Zoo had asked the public for tips about Gladys, a Eurasian eagle owl, on Wednesday. Thursday, the Zoo reported that a concerned neighbor found the injured owl and took her to the Zoo, but she had already died by the time she got there.

"We’d like to thank the community for the tremendous outpouring of support and information they provided to aide in the search for Gladys," the Zoo said in a social media post.

The Zoo’s statement said it is a difficult day for their team since Gladys was hand-raised from a chick at the zoo and had served as an amabassador of her species for five years.

Gladys escaped during a routine exercise and training session earlier this month. Eurasian owls are among the largest owls in the world, with piercing orange eyes and six-foot wingspans.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.