Bald eagles recovered from near-extinction and are an iconic conservation success, but continue to suffer high rates of lead poisoning from ingesting ammunition fragments in prey and carrion.
Lead poisoning in bald eagles causes neurological damage including seizures, inability to fly, loss of coordination, blindness, and slow death over days or weeks. Rehabilitated eagles require chelation therapy and months of intensive care. Even sub-lethal lead exposure causes immune suppression, reproductive failure, and behavioral impairment. The primary source of lead is fragmented rifle ammunition in deer gut piles and carcasses left in the field. A single gut pile can contain hundreds of lead fragments detectable on X-ray. Studies consistently show that voluntary and mandatory shifts to non-lead ammunition dramatically reduce blood lead levels in eagles and other raptors. Several states and countries have enacted non-lead ammunition requirements in specific areas.