{"id":541599,"date":"2026-03-24T03:45:09","date_gmt":"2026-03-24T03:45:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/541599\/"},"modified":"2026-03-24T03:45:09","modified_gmt":"2026-03-24T03:45:09","slug":"michigan-bald-eagles-face-deadly-threat-from-lead-poisoning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/541599\/","title":{"rendered":"Michigan bald eagles face deadly threat from lead poisoning"},"content":{"rendered":"

HOLLAND, Mich. \u2014 Bald eagles, an emblem of the United States, are facing a growing threat in Michigan as wildlife experts report increasing cases of lead poisoning among the birds. <\/p>\n

Toxic metal exposure often comes from leftover hunting ammunition and fishing gear, and rescuers say even a small amount of lead can be fatal.<\/p>\n

Bryan Parkhurst runs the Holland based non-profit Falconshire Raptors<\/a>, a raptor rescue and transport service. He said his organization is often the first call when an eagle is found hurt or in distress.<\/p>\n

\u201cA lot of times around the ground they\u2019re sick, they\u2019re scared, they\u2019re dehydrated, they are weak, but yet they\u2019re still an apex predator and the top of the predator world. So, they will fight,\u201d Parkhurst said.<\/p>\n

When an injured eagle is reported, Parkhurst says a two-person team will respond quickly to secure the bird without causing further harm. <\/p>\n

Once the eagle is safely contained, they begin stabilization efforts, which may include wrapping the bird in a blanket, limiting light exposure and administering fluids or oxygen right in the field.<\/p>\n

\u201cMost of the time, hypothermia has set in, they\u2019ve been on the ground, they\u2019re dehydrated, and they\u2019re feeling intimidated because they\u2019re vulnerable to other animals,\u201d Parkhurst said. \u201cOnce the bird is brought in the ambulance, you can feel the temperature is much more comfortable than being outside. We\u2019ve had a lot of birds die because they had to be transported in the back of a vehicle. It\u2019s cold, it\u2019s bouncing, so we chose to invest in an ambulance.\u201d<\/p>\n

The ambulance Parkhurst describes is a specialized mobile unit dedicated entirely to raptor rescue. <\/p>\n

Equipped with oxygen, first aid supplies and digital x-ray capabilities, the vehicle allows the team to provide critical care on-site before transporting the birds to rehabilitation centers.<\/p>\n

For the volunteers and coordinators, the emotional impact of the work is significant. Trent Dekker, raptor rescue coordinator at Falconshire Raptors, said one of the hardest parts of the job is not being able to release every bird back into the wild.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe biggest tip would be to call as soon as you know something is wrong, or call DNR or any other number that you can find,” he said. <\/p>\n

Parkhurst shared a particularly memorable rescue from Waukazoo Woods, where a bald eagle was found on the ground during a snowstorm on Thanksgiving. <\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I walked up to it, it immediately stood up with a seven-foot wingspan, three and a half feet high, charging me,\u201d Parkhurst said. \u201cTrent helped corral the eagle into a garage for a quick rescue. Regrettably, it did not survive its injuries.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lead poisoning can be devastating for eagles, often affecting neurological function. Birds may exhibit erratic head movements, difficulty focusing, poor balance, and eventually may collapse to the ground. <\/p>\n

“They\u2019re basically very vulnerable to everything, including the neurological condition they\u2019re dealing with, which would be fatal if help is not administered,\u201d Parkhurst said.<\/p>\n

Volunteers emphasize the importance of the public knowing how to respond when encountering a distressed eagle. Observers should monitor the bird from a safe distance and avoid approaching it. <\/p>\n

If possible, small birds may be gently placed in a dark, quiet box for transport, but larger birds like bald eagles require professional intervention to avoid injury to both humans and birds.<\/p>\n

\"Pictured<\/p>\n

Pictured is the Falconshire Raptor Ambulance used to help inured or sick bald eagles in Michigan (Princess Jhan\u00e9 Stepherson\/WWMT){ }<\/p>\n

Experts say the key to protecting Michigan\u2019s bald eagles lies in prevention. <\/p>\n

Switching to non-lead ammunition such as copper, steel, or tungsten can reduce the risk of poisoning. Hunters are encouraged to make small changes that could save lives.<\/p>\n

Parkhurst described different alternatives, including copper bullets and tungsten shotgun shells, which are safe for wildlife. <\/p>\n

\u201cEven a rice-sized piece of lead could kill an eagle,\u201d he said. \u201cMost hunters don\u2019t know this until they start rescuing eagles.\u201d<\/p>\n

Falconshire Raptors is a small West Michigan non-profit that relies on donations and community support to maintain its specialized ambulance and rescue operations. <\/p>\n

Parkhurst said anyone can help, whether through financial contributions or by making safer choices as hunters.<\/p>\n

For those who spot a distressed bald eagle in Michigan, Parkhurst recommends contacting trained professionals immediately. <\/p>\n

Falconshire Raptors can be reached at 616-566-8966, and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources maintains a list of licensed wildlife rehabilitators throughout the state.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"HOLLAND, Mich. \u2014 Bald eagles, an emblem of the United States, are facing a growing threat in Michigan…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":541600,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[51],"tags":[79,201],"class_list":["post-541599","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-wildlife","tag-science","tag-wildlife"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/541599","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=541599"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/541599\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/541600"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=541599"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=541599"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=541599"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}