Funding sought to provide care for lead-poisoned bald eagle

Northwoods Wildlife Center (NWC) in Minocqua recently took a bald eagle into its care after calls for a possible rescue were received from concerned residents.

Reports indicated that a bald eagle had been seen sitting in the same place by the side of the road for days, leading callers to believe it was ill or injured.

The center, which has been helping wildlife through rehabilitation, education and research since its start in 1979, sent staff to investigate, who found the eagle had moved off into a snowy swamp area.

One of NWC’s rehabbers, Kayla Dell’Ano, was able to wade through the waist-deep snow and into the swamp, and corner the eagle against a fallen tree. She was then able to capture it and bring it back to the clinic for testing and x-rays.

The exam revealed no broken bones or injuries, but the eagle’s symptoms were consistent with lead poisoning — something rehabbers said they see “all too often.”

Lead poisoning in these birds is often caused by them ingesting lead ammunition fragments lodged within wild game carcasses or gut piles left behind by hunters, NWC said.

Lead poisoning can be very difficult, time-consuming and expensive to treat, and the outcome is not always positive. NWC rehabbers are hopeful they will be able to rehabilitate the bird and return him to the wild.

“Please consider donating to help us care for this majestic animal,” NWC said.

NWC is located at 8683 S. Blumenstein Road in Minocqua. It’s open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For general inquiries, contact NWC at 715-356-7400. For guidance on animal emergencies, visit the website and click on the orange “Wildlife Emergency” tab.

Anyone who would like more information or to support the efforts of Northwoods Wildlife Center can visit northwoodswildlife.org/.