Evaluating the Effects of Lead Poisoning on Bald Eagle Cardiac Health

Few diagnostic tools are available to wildlife rehabilitation hospitals and veterinarians to properly assess the health of bald eagles recovering from lead poisoning. A recent study showed that more than 35 percent of lead-poisoned eagles had heart lesions that could impact their ability to return to and survive in the wild. Researchers will compare three diagnostic tools to assess the heart strength and functional ability of bald eagles treated for and recovering from lead poisoning. This information will help establish a metric to determine treatment effectiveness and if recovered eagles can be released and be expected to thrive in the wild.