In a recent occurrence, a bald eagle was brought to a wildlife rehabilitation center, and the condition in which he arrived was disheartening. The majestic bird was paralyzed, unable to support his own head, necessitating the assistance of individuals to carry him. His head gently rested on his wing, portraying his vulnerability. With utmost urgency, rescuers swiftly intervened to purify his blood from the poisonous elements that were gradually draining the essence of his existence.
Instances like these unfortunately occur frequently among bald eagles. Lynn Tompkins, the dedicated executive director of the Blue Mountain Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center in Oregon, has been tirelessly working to rescue and rehabilitate these magnificent birds for three decades.
“When we received him, his head was in an inverted position,” shared Tompkins with The Dodo. “Lead poisoning affects the nervous system, which includes the brain and muscle function throughout the body. Affected birds often struggle to stand, experience breathing difficulties, and are unable to open their beaks.” The detrimental effects of lead poisoning on these eagles are extensive, hindering their basic bodily functions and causing immense distress.
Lead enters the bodies of bald eagles, as well as other raptors like owls, when they consume the carcasses of animals shot by hunters using lead bullets. Lynn Tompkins explains, “Raptors are natural scavengers, so they feed on remains. They consume animals that have been shot, making lead ammunition the primary source of contamination.”
In 2012, researchers from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) examined 58 deceased bald eagles and discovered that 60 percent of them had detectable levels of lead, with 38 percent having lethal concentrations. Birds severely affected by lead poisoning, yet ɱaпage to survive, require months of treatment and rehabilitation to recover fully. Tompkins recounts an instance where an eagle had relatively low lead levels but was paralyzed and unable to stand or unclench its feet. Multiple treatments were necessary to reduce the lead levels, and it took around six months for the eagle to regain normal flight capabilities. The recovery process for such cases can be lengthy and challenging.
Even when bald eagles are exposed to lower levels of lead, it can still have detrimental effects on their coordination and decision-making abilities. Lynn Tompkins explains that this impairment can put them in more dangerous situations, such as scavenging near roads for roadkill, increasing the risk of being hit by cars.
Meanwhile, as Tompkins was fighting to save the lives of these majestic birds, the U.S. Secretary of the Interior at the ᴛι̇ɱe, Ryan Zinke, overturned a ban on the use of lead ammunition in wildlife refuges. The ban was intended to protect animals, including the iconic American bald eagle, from suffering slow deaths caused by lead poisoning. Zinke argued that the interests of hunters were not adequately represented in the ban.
Tragically, the most recent bald eagle admitted to the rehabilitation center never had the opportunity to soar freely again. Despite four days of treatment to cleanse the lead from its bloodstream, the bird succumbed to the poison that had already spread to its tissues. Tompkins recalls, “This particular bird would occasionally startle and flap its wings out of fear, but then it would abruptly stop. The treatment cannot reach the lead that has already permeated other tissues.”
Due to the widespread nature of lead poisoning, it is challenging to determine the exact number of bald eagles and other raptors affected each year. Tompkins conducted lead tests on 160 birds, mostly raptors, last year. She found that 80 percent of eagles, 30 percent of hawks, and 25 percent of great horned owls had detectable levels of lead in their blood. The issue is expanding beyond eagles, with an increasing number of species being affected by lead contamination.
“So far this year we’ve had three bald eagles come into the center – all of them had toxic levels of lead,” Tompkins said. “Lead is toxic. There’s no argument about that.”
To give bald eagles impacted by lead a chance to survive, you can contribute to the rescue center.
