Lead poisoning leads to death of bald eagle, rescue group says
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A bald eagle suffering from lead poisoning that was too severe to treat had to be euthanized, a Pittsburgh-based animal welfare group said.
Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh said the eagle was suffering from lead toxicity when it entered its care at its rehabilitation center in Penn Hills.
According to Katie Kefalos, director of wildlife rehabilitation for the rescue, the state Game Commission found the 3½-year-old eagle in Ligonier late on Sept. 18 and it was brought to her center on Sept. 19. It was showing severe signs of lead poisoning and was severely dehydrated and emaciated.
She described its condition as “heartbreaking.”
“It was incredibly lethargic and unable to right itself,” Kefalos said. “I would even use the term depressed — very tell-tale signs of lead poisoning or lead toxicity. We began treatment right away.”
Kefalos said an exam found lead fragments in the bird’s lower gastrointestinal tract, where it was not possible to remove it.
The eagle was euthanized on Sept. 21.
A study published in 2022 found that nearly half of bald eagles tested across the U.S. show signs of chronic lead exposure.
Lead is a neurotoxin that in low doses impairs an eagle’s balance and stamina, reducing its ability to fly, hunt and reproduce. In high doses, it can cause seizures, breathing difficulty and death.
Scientists say eagles are likely exposed to lead by eating carrion or prey contaminated from ammunition or fishing tackle.
In 2017, the state Game Commission asked hunters to voluntarily cover their game remains and reduce the use of lead ammunition.
Kefalos said they believe the lead in the euthanized eagle came from ammunition, but a necropsy was not done to remove and identify it.
“We’re going to start seeing this more and more if we don’t start picking up after ourselves out in the wild,” Kefalos said. “These birds are hunters but they’re also scavengers. They will pick up and eat it and ingest items that have lead in them or traces of lead that can be fatal.”
The eagle was the second suffering from lead exposure that Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh has cared for this year.
In late June, Kefalos said they treated a juvenile female bald eagle that had been found in Lawrenceville. In addition to a concussion and bacterial infection, the rescue said it had dangerous amounts of lead in its system, which was removed with chelation treatment.
According to the rescue, chelation treatment is a costly and complicated process during which multiple medications and vitamins are used to bind lead into a compound that can be excreted through urine.
After 15 days, it was sent to the Tamarack Wildlife Center in Sagertown for continued care and to be with other eagles in its age group. Kefalos said it is almost fully recovered and she expects it to eventually be released.
Humane Animal Rescue of Pittsburgh says those who find a wild bird that appears sluggish, droopy or unable to move should contact its rehabilitation center helpline at 412-345-7300, ext. 500.