A northwest Iowa organization that treats sick, injured or orphaned wildlife has launched an “Eagle Legacy” campaign. Gretchen Gondeck is a spokesperson for the Forever Wildlife Lodge and Clinic in Woodbury County. She says the focus is on educating hunters on how choosing lead-free ammunition can help protect bald eagles.
The group “Save Our Avian Resources”, better known as SOAR, is a partner in the effort. Kay Neumann, a member of that group, says raptors, like eagles, typically feed on live animals, but during fall and winter they will scavenge through things like deer and bird carcasses that could be loaded with lead shot.
If an eagle has been sickened after eating lead, it can be cured if it’s promptly found and treated — but a full recovery typically takes months. Neumann says lead shot fragments are also a danger to humans.
