Bald Eagles and Lead Poisoning

 A growing problem that is occurring not just in our area but across the States is lead poisoning found in Bald Eagles. In most cases the Eagles do not survive. Tamarack has had 10 Bald Eagles brought in for treatment this year, not all have been for lead poisoning thank goodness.  Posted here are just a few cases and I have also linked to recent newspaper articles about this growing problem of lead poisoning.

Nov. 1st

Yesterday was a day of tears. This magnificent adult female Bald Eagle was admitted Sunday
evening and (using our out of date test strips) tested off the charts for lead poisoning. We lost her Monday morning. Eagles had been seen scavaging shot ground hogs in the area where she was found. Please tell hunters its important to dispose of carcasses and gut piles where predators such as eagles can't get them. Its much easier to prevent lead poisoning than to treat it.

Nov. 20th

Our ninth Bald Eagle for the year was admitted this evening. I'll send a photo tomorrow. This guy is an emaciated adult male with an old metacarpal fracture. He doesn't have lead poisoning though, thank goodness.

Dec. 10th

This eagle was found by a hunter this morning, another victim of lead poisoning. He's a bit of a mess but we have started treatment and will hope for the best. Unfortunately he has a very poor prognosis.

Newspaper article written Nov. 5th in the Erie Times News. Click here.
Newspaper article written Dec. 2nd in the Meadville Tribune by John Tautin. Click here.

More valuable information about lead poisoning in Bald Eagles:
This blog post was written in 2008 with some valuable information and two PDF brochures you can download about lead poisoning. Click here.

And here is an excellent video from the University of Minnesota about lead poisoning. Click here.