Eagle Rescued From Lead Poisoning, Soars Again

A bald eagle in Delaware County, Ohio, was rescued on March 24 after being found in a sickly state. Officers from Preservation Parks of Delaware County, Sgt. Logan Curfman and Officer Eric Tanner, were able to safely secure the bird, using their bulletproof vests to shield themselves from its talons. The eagle was transported to the Ohio Wildlife Center (OWC) where it was diagnosed with acute lead poisoning, likely from ingesting bullet fragments in carrion or lead fishing tackle.

After nearly two months of chelation therapy, the eagle recovered significantly. Its ability to fly and hunt was tested in a flight cage, showing positive results despite blindness in its left eye, an old injury. The successful rehabilitation culminated in a release event at Deer Haven Park on May 24, where the eagle took flight eastward towards the Olentangy River.

This rescue underscores the progress made in bald eagle conservation. By 1963, only 417 pairs existed in the lower 48 states, largely due to the pesticide DDT. Following DDT's ban on December 31, 1972, and the establishment of the EPA in 1970, eagle populations have rebounded dramatically. Ohio now boasts over 1,000 nests across 87 counties, with Delaware County alone hosting 16.