Bald eagles across the United States are dying from lead poisoning

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

Bald eagles across the United States are dying from lead bullets -- but it's not because they're being shot.

The Cape Fear Raptor Center, North Carolina's largest eagle rehab facility, has treated seven eagles in the past month for lead poisoning, executive director Dr. Joni Shimp told CNN.

Since November, at least 80% of the eagles the facility has euthanized were put down because of lead poisoning.

Hunters use lead bullets to kill deer and other animals. Although the hunters aren't targeting eagles, the birds are still indirectly affected when they consume animals shot with those bullets.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/bald-eagles-across-the-united-states-are-dying-from-lead-poisoning/ar-BB1042TC?li=BBnbfcL&ocid=hplocalnews

Why kill something to just leave the carcass?

[krispos42]

1. I would guess shooting vermin

Skunks and gophers and such.

When hunters shoot deer, they usually recover them. Vermin, not so much.

[NickB79]

2. You typically gut out deer in the field to make the carcass lighter

And to get the meat cooling faster to prevent spoilage. Which leaves behind the intestines, lungs, stomach, etc.

And in this pile are the lead fragments from the bullet.