Lead Poisoning Confirmed in PA Bald Eagle

This photo provided by the Humane Animal Rescue shows a bald eagle that Pennsylvania wildlife officials say is suffering from lead poisoning but is in guarded condition. The bird was letting people get close to it on a wildlife trail near Apollo over the weekend. The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports it was taken to a wildlife center in Saegertown, where blood tests confirmed it had lead poisoning. (Humane Animal Rescue via AP)

APOLLO, Pa. (AP) — Pennsylvania wildlife officials say a bald eagle that is suffering from lead poisoning is in guarded condition.

The bird was letting people get close to it on a wildlife trail near Apollo over the weekend. The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports it was taken to a wildlife center in Saegertown, where blood tests confirmed it had lead poisoning.

According to a wildlife education expert, the bird could have picked up lead from scavenging animals that were shot or from a fishing sinker.

The World Wildlife Fund notes that after being protected under the Endangered Species Act, the bald eagle population in the lower 48 states of the U.S. has been down listed to “threatened.”

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