Wildlife experts are mourning the loss of a bald eagle after it succumbed to lead poisoning injuries.
The bald eagle, which had high lead toxicity levels, was discovered “lying face down” and didn’t have the strength to hold her head up, according to the Northwoods Wildlife Center in Minocqua, Wisc. The NWC tried to nurse the bird back to health, however, the lead poisoning took over her blood system and she died on Monday, Fox News reported.
“As a family, we are devastated but feel this is such a great teachable moment. Bald eagles are regular scavengers of deer carcasses and frequently ingest fish,” NWC wrote in a Facebook post. “By no fault of her own, she consumed these prey items which included discarded lead.”
NWC explained how the public could help prevent bald eagle deaths by switching to lead-free bullets and being more mindful of the hunting equipment they bring outdoors.
“Just ONE lead split shot is enough to kill ONE loon weighing nearly 12 pounds,” NWC explained. “Hunting and fishing are such important parts of our culture and economy and although we support these initiatives, we think it can be done in a more responsible way.”
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