Study Says Many Bald Eagles Exposed To Lead Poisoning

Bald eagles are found more in Alaska than in any other state, as this Alaska Department of Fish and Game species description:

Found only in North America, bald eagles are more abundant in Alaska than anywhere else in the United States. The Alaska population is estimated at 30,000 birds. 

So for a bird that is not only a symbol of our country and most concentrated in Alaska, this Associated Press report on bald eagles suffering from multiple cases of lead poisoning, it’s disheartening. Here’s more from the AP:

While the bald eagle population has rebounded from the brink of extinction since the U.S. banned the pesticide DDT in 1972, harmful levels of toxic lead were found in the bones of 46% of bald eagles sampled in 38 states from California to Florida, researchers reported in the journal Science.

Similar rates of lead exposure were found in golden eagles, which scientists say means the raptors likely consumed carrion or prey contaminated by lead from ammunition or fishing tackle.

The blood, bones, feathers and liver tissue of 1,210 eagles sampled from 2010 to 2018 were examined to assess chronic and acute lead exposure.