Yellowstone National Park is home to a wide range of animals. This is one of the prime locations for those who are looking to interact with wildlife. However, this park was the setting for a major tragedy recently. The worst part of all is that it seems to have been totally avoidable. The golden eagle in question was found dead last year and now the cause has been discovered.
Golden eagle dies from lead poisoning; Yellowstone’s first golden eagle marked with a transmitter. Details at…
Posted by Yellowstone National Park on Monday, April 15, 2019
Bird lovers everywhere were sad to learn that the golden eagle had succumbed to lead poisoning. She’s well known to all of the aficionados out there because she was given a tracking device to wear. This device was instrumental when it came to letting people know more about the life and times of the animals who reside at this world-famous national park.
The device was also designed to provide the park officials with information about the death of the animals who live here. Hunters who visit this park will not cease their usage of lead bullets. This sickens those who have preaching about the importance of using alternative ammunition. When the eagles feed on the remains of animals who have been killed with these bullets, they are poisoned.
From there, the cycle of death continues. Animals continue to consume other animals who have consumed the lead bullets and a trail of sadness is left in the hunters’ wake. We really wish that they would take the advice of those who are trying to steer them towards the alternatives. Blue Mountain Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center’s executive director is now speaking out about the matter.
“They usually have difficulty breathing. They cannot even open their beaks,” says Lynn Tompkins. The lead causes severe nerve damage that makes these birds’ final days especially painful. The golden eagle’s lead levels were incredibly high. The animal was well past the point of toxicity. The national ban on lead bullets was overturned two years ago and these are the consequences.
Would you like to help these birds to avoid this fate in the future? Let’s all come together to assist these birds as soon as possible. It is time to contact the Department of the Interior to ask for the ban to return. No golden eagle should ever be made to live like this. Humans must take a long, hard look at their most destructive habits and make the necessary changes. Stories like these are simply too heartbreaking to bear.
Source: KBZK
