MILWAUKEE — A bald eagle is recovering from severe lead poisoning, after being found after a World Series Watch party in Milwaukee.
Officials at the Wisconsin Humane Society say a man from Milwaukee was stunned to see the bird “hopping through his neighbor’s yard” and grew concerned when he saw the bird still grounded the following day.
He called the WHS Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, and two licensed rehabilitators safely retrieved the bird. During its exam, the eagle showed signs of respiratory distress because its beak was open as he gasped for air.
“When we performed a lead test, his results were so high that our machine couldn’t even display a number,” officials tells Wisconsin’s Midday News. “This poor bird was suffering from severe lead poisoning.”
WHS officials say x-rays showed 2-3 tiny metallic pieces in the bird’s stomach, “indicating he consumed fragments of a man-made object; due to their highly concentrated digestive acid, even a minuscule amount of lead is quickly dissolved and absorbed directly into an eagle’s bloodstream”.
While they can’t specifically identify the items, it’s likely the pieces are either fishing tackle or ammunition.
WHS officials are saying the bird’s recovery is promising, with his breathing improving and he’s starting to eat solid food. The bird is still considered to be in critical condition, and the public can donate to the bird’s care online at https://wihumane.me/SupportBaldEagle.
