The lingering loon of Spring Lake has died.

For the past several weeks, the common loon that inexplicably chose to linger on the small North Mankato lake so late in the year has entertained park visitors, frequently approaching within just a few feet.

Speculation as to why it was staying in the area included the ample fish population it could feed on, an injury, or possibly the lake wasn’t quite long enough for it to again get airborne.

However, Mary Stenzel of North Mankato, who particularly enjoyed viewing the bird, said she discovered it on shore late last Friday.

Stenzel said the bird seemed very weak and allowed her to approach even closer than usual, where she could see it had an injured right leg.

“Someone said they saw it struggling on the surface earlier,” Stenzel said, suggesting it had tangled with a snapping turtle.

Stenzel then called North Mankato police who, with the assistance of Department of Natural Resources conservation officer Chris Howe, caught the bird. Howe then took it to the Minnesota Wildlife Rehabilitation Center.

“I got an e-mail from the Wild Rehabilitation Center of Minnesota, and the loon did not make it,” Howe said. “Their e-mail said, ‘The vets were treating it for the tears on its legs, thin body condition, and dehydration, but despite our care, was found dead in its cage the next day.’”

Howe said he intends to do a little more investigating in an attempt to determine just why the loon stayed in the area so long. “It may have been injured and that’s why it stopped in the first place.”