Lead-poisoned bald eagle rescued

CHESAPEAKE, Va. (WAVY) - A bald eagle was rescued from Chesapeake after falling from the sky due to lead poisoning.

According to a news release from the Wildlife Center of Virginia , the bald eagle "fell from the sky" on December 31 near the intersection of Butts Station Road and Centerville Turnpike, near Stumpy Lake in Chesapeake.

The adult bird was admitted to the wildlife center on January 1, and was the center's first patient admitted this year.

Upon admission, the veterinary staff found the eagle was thin, weak, and hanging its head - all symptoms of lead poisoning. A blood test confirmed a high level of lead, and the center immediately started to cleanse the lead from the bird.

The release said each year, an alarming number of eagles are admitted for lead poisoning. In 2011, the center admitted 36 bald eagles, six of which showed signs of lead toxicity, and another 15 had measurable levels of lead. In spite of the treatments, many of the birds die from the contaminant.

Routine radiographs show that many of these eagles are exposed to the highly toxic metal by ingesting lead shotgun pellets or bullet fragments.

The release said the eagles ingest the fragments while scavenging animals that have been shot but not recovered by hunters, or by feeding on the entrails of game animals, like deer, which have been harvested and "field dressed."

According to Ed Clark, President of the Wildlife Center, a single pellet that lodges in the digestive tract can be fatal. Clark suggests that hunters be careful with lead.

"If you hunt, make every effort to recover your prey. If you are shooting nuisance animals, dispose of them properly. If you are field dressing game, be sure to take an extra few minutes to bury or cover the discarded entrails. The sickness or death of even a single bald eagle is just too high a price for human negligence or laziness," Clark said.

Clark added there are now alternatives to using lead-based ammunition for hunting.

The release said anyone finding an injured eagle or other wild animal is urged to contact a Conservation Police Officer or the Wildlife Center immediately. An animal's chance of survival depends upon the speed with which it is presented for treatment, which is especially true in poisoning cases.