Rescued Bald Eagle to Return to the Wild After Lead poisoningโข Treatment
WAYNESBORO,VA – A majestic bald eagle,grounded near โคRocky Mountโ following a territorial dispute,is set to be โฃreleased back intoโข the wild tomorrow after a month-long recovery from lead poisoning. The remarkableโค story highlights the ongoing threat โฃlead ammunition poses to โraptors across Virginia and the nation.
The eagle was initially admittedโข to the Southwest Virginia Wildlife โคCenter โคin Roanoke before being โtransferred to the โคWildlife Center of Virginia in โคWaynesboro for specialized care.โฃ according to Connor Gillespie, Director of Outreach for the Wildlife โขCenter of Virginia, the โbirdโข wasn’t suffering from any physical injuries, butโ tests revealed dangerously high levels ofโ lead in its system.
“The firstโ stepโฃ was to chelate the lead – essentially, remove it from the โbird’s system,” Gillespie explained. “Once theโ lead was addressed, the eagle quickly regained its strength.”
The source of the lead poisoning โฃis believed to be fragments ofโ lead ammunition leftโค behindโ in deer carcasses. Eagles often scavenge on these remains,โ inadvertently ingesting the toxic metal. Gillespie notes this is a widespreadโฃ problem.”In roughly threeโ out ofโ four eagles we admit to theโ center, we find evidence of lead exposure.”
Lead poisoning weakens eagles, making them vulnerable โand possibly causing them to become grounded – as was the โขcase with this โindividual. The territorial dispute that initiallyโฃ brought the โeagle to attention may have been exacerbated โขby โitsโฃ weakenedโฃ condition.
The public โis invited to โขwitness the eagle’s release at smith Mountain Lake Community Park on โTuesday. gillespie emphasizedโค the importance of a quiet โฃatmosphere for the event. “We โฃneedโ to be extremely respectful and quiet during the transport and release. No talking, no radio, โno podcasts – weโ want โto minimize anyโค stress on the bird.”
This release serves as a powerful reminderโ of the impact humanโ activity โcan have โคonโ wildlife and the โdedicated efforts of organizations like the Wildlife Center โof โVirginia to mitigate these threats. โค
[Image of the eagle during treatment/recovery would be inserted here]
Attend theโ Release:
* Where: smithโ Mountain Lake Community Park
* when: Tuesday [Insert Date – based on original article publication date]
* Details: The event is open โฃto the public.
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* Keywords: Bald eagle, โlead poisoning,โค wildlife rescue, Virginia, Smithโค Mountainโฃ Lake, Wildlife Center of virginia, raptorโฃ conservation, animal โฃrescue,โ environmental health.
* Meta Description: A rescued bald eagle recovers from lead poisoning and โis setโข for release back into the โwild at Smithโ Mountain Lake.โข Learn about the dangers of โคlead ammunition to eagles and how you can โคhelp.
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