A bald eagle was released back into the wild earlier this month, after undergoing five months of recovery from lead poisoning.
Aldergrove resident Mariah Delaney had found the bald eagle in her backyard in March, unable to fly.
She immediately contacted OWL (Orphaned Wildlife) Rehabilitation Society, a Delta-based non-profit dedicated to raptor rescue and rehabilitation.
Lead poisoning is a common predators who scavenge, as well as in large mammals like cougars and bears, said raptor care supervisor Martina Versteeg.
Lead fragments lodged in discarded animals parts are sometimes eaten by these scavenging predators, including eagles. The challenge is that even if the lead fragments are execreted, the lead can still enter the animal's bloodstream.
Symptoms can range anywhere from respiratory to digestive to neurological.
Treatment for the bald eagle consisted of supportive therapies such as chelation therapy, which binds to the lead to help it pass from the body through an injection, fluids, and other comfort increasing treatments, Versteeg explained.
This can be prevented though, she said.
"People can switch to non-lead ammunition and non-lead fishing tackles and weights," she suggested, noting it can cost a bit more but it can save animal life.
Lead is banned in B.C. for hunting waterfowl, but is still used in bullets and shot for other animals.
"There is still historic lead from over 50 years ago causing new toxicity wildlife cases 鈥� swans dabble up the fragments as grit, they get sick and are more likely to fly into powerlines and more likely to be hunted by predators; which also end up lead poisoned from consuming their carcass," Versteeg said.
The bald eagle was released back into the area of Martingale Crescent and 244 Street 鈥� the same area she was found.
Versteeg would like to see more education about ammunition and fishing gear containing lead to help protect these apex predators.
