America’s symbol: Two Central Oregon bald eagles rescued but don’t survive crash, severe lead poisoning
BEND, Ore. (KTVZ) -- The folks at Think Wild Central Oregon wildlife hospital are thrilled to care for rescued animals of every persuasion, with a typical goal of returning them to the wild. So this was a sad week, as they were unable to save two adult bald eagles - America’s official symbol – for very different reasons.
Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office animal control officers tried on Wednesday to save a bald eagle found lying near the fog line, having been struck by a vehicle on Eagle Crest Boulevard at West Highway 126, the agency said in a Facebook post.
They safely captured and brought the bird to Think Wild, but DCSO said that “despite every effort to manage pain and provide oxygen, the injuries were too severe, and the majestic eagle crossed the rainbow bridge,." Still, they thanked “everyone who worked tirelessly to give this eagle a fighting chance.”
Last Sunday, another bald eagle was rescued at Brasada Ranch Resort that was "suffering from severe lead toxicity,” according to Molly Honea, Think Wild’s development and communications manager.
It’s not really a coincidence for the two unfortunate incidents in recent days.
“As breeding season begins, eagles and other wildlife are becoming more active and seeking nesting habitat and increasing food intake, so they can support their young when the time comes,” Honea explained to KTVZ News.
“With the foggy weather and limited winter daylight, roadkill becomes more prevalent,” she said. “And opportunistic eaters like eagles often take advantage of these easy meals, putting themselves at risk along roadways.”
“Eagles will also eat gut piles left behind by hunters, as well as marmots and ground squirrels that people shoot for population control,” Honea added. “If any of these food sources have been shot with lead ammunition, which fragments upon impact, the eagles can easily become sick from lead poisoning.”
Honea said blood tests found the bald eagle rescued at Brasada Ranch “had lead levels higher than our machine can even test.” The reading was at least 62 ug/dL (micrograms per decileter) -- which Honea said is six times the level considered clinical lead poisoning.
Physical symptoms in raptors include weakness, drooped wings, inability to stand, green diarrhea and neurological damage, often appearing “drunk.”
The American Eagle Foundation cited an eight-year study of samples across 38 states that found 47% of bald eagles and 46% of golden eagles had signs of chronic lead poisoning, which is the result of repeated lead exposure. As many as 33-35% of eagles had acute lead poisoning from exposure to high lead levels.
The Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife says bald eagles breed in 32 of Oregon's 36 counties and are found throughout the state during non-breeding season, with an estimated 570 breeding pairs.
America's bald eagle was brought back from the brink of extinction after the federal government banned the use of the pesticide DDT in 1972. It was listed as an endangered species six years later, but after a recovery that took decades, the bird was removed from the federal listing in 2007 and from the Oregon threatened species list in 2012.
The bald eagle was adopted as an emblem of the United States by the Second Continental Congress in 1782, appearing on the Great Seal to represent strength and freedom. It was formally designated the country's official national bird by President Biden on Dec. 24, 2024.
