By Jean Pocha
Pathfinder Staff 

Lead continues to weigh down eagles

 

February 2, 2023

Photo submitted

Brooke Tanner holding a recently admitted bald eagle at Wild Skies Raptor Center. The eagle is displaying signs of lead poisoning.

"We lost yet another golden eagle to lead poisoning yesterday," said Brooke Tanner, founder and executive director, Wild Skies Raptor Center, Potomac, Mt. "It happens every winter after the snow settles. Prey is harder to find and they must scavenge to survive."

After a weakened eagle is found and brought to Tanner or other raptor rehabilitation facilities, the birds are given chelation therapy to bind the lead in their systems and hopefully allow the lead to pass through. Success varies, depending on the condition of the eagle, said Tanner.

In the last six weeks of 2022 Wild Skies had admi...



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