Very disturbing news about the health of bald and golden eagles in the United States was published in the February 17 issue of Science. The prestigious Journal reported that, “Unexpectedly high frequencies of lead poisoning” were found in the birds in a comprehensive study of 1210 of them. The field work for the national study took place during the years 2010 to 2018 in 38 states, including a Maine bald eagle testing site.

Chronic lead poisoning (as measured in the bone) was found in 46 to 47 percent of the eagles. Acute lead poisoning (as measured in liver, blood, and feathers) was found in 27 to 33 percent of bald eagles and 7 to 35 percent of goldens.

Acute poisoning was generally higher in the winter when the eagles commonly scavenge carcasses of deer and other animals. “Use of lead in ammunition during hunting seasons corresponds directly … with the feeding” of bald and golden eagles. “Our data show a continent-wide temporal correspondence between acute lead poisoning of eagles and the use of lead ammunition.”

This study may be powerful enough to convince the powers that be to ban lead hunting ammunition and lead fishing tackle.

In the Right Place: Get the Lead Out