Report: Air Force falcon mascot seriously injured in West Point prank

A prank gone wrong reportedly resulted in potential life-threatening injuries for Air Force's live mascot.

The 22-year-old white gyrfalcon named Aurora, was taken from a colonel's home by West Point cadets as part of a prank during Air Force/Army week, an anonymous Air Force representative told Brent Briggeman of the Colorado Springs Gazette. The bird injured a wing while being kept by the cadets and may have to be euthanized, the representative said.

Air Force flew the bird back to Colorado Springs on the team's charter flight Saturday afternoon.

"Not sure of the extent, but we are getting it back to (Colorado Springs) where a specialist is to have it examined," Air Force associate athletic director for communications Troy Garnhart said. "Our understanding is that it was taken from a residence."

Army defeated Air Force 17-14 on Saturday.