What caused the death of so many Bald Eagles last year in the U.S. during their winter migration?
A. This question is still being investigated, but evidence seems to be pointing to some sort of chemical contaminant or compound used to kill or treat other animals. I just received the quarterly report from the National Wildlife Health Center (NWHC) for the period from October through December 1996. It had the following on the bald eagle mortality event in Arkansas: “A large scale bald eagle mortality event has occurred for the second time in three years in southwestern Arkansas. In early November, bald eagles and American coots were found sick and dead on De Gray Lake. From November through January, a total of 25 affected eagles were found on Lakes De Gray, Ouachita and Hamilton. In general, the birds were in good body condition with no gross lesions. All ages and both sexes were affected. The only abnormality noted in eagles and affected coots were microscopic changes in the white matter of the brain, described by NWHC pathologists and others as vacuolar myelinopathy. This is the sa
A. This question is still being investigated, but evidence seems to be pointing to some sort of chemical contaminant or compound used to kill or treat other animals. I just received the quarterly report from the National Wildlife Health Center (NWHC) for the period from October through December 1996. It had the following on the bald eagle mortality event in Arkansas: “A large scale bald eagle mortality event has occurred for the second time in three years in southwestern Arkansas. In early November, bald eagles and American coots were found sick and dead on De Gray Lake. From November through January, a total of 25 affected eagles were found on Lakes De Gray, Ouachita and Hamilton. In general, the birds were in good body condition with no gross lesions. All ages and both sexes were affected. The only abnormality noted in eagles and affected coots were microscopic changes in the white matter of the brain, described by NWHC pathologists and others as vacuolar myelinopathy.
