Bald eagles are one of conservation's great success stories, recovering from near-extinction to thriving populations. Ongoing welfare threats include lead poisoning and power line strikes.
Lead poisoning is the most significant ongoing welfare threat to bald eagles — birds ingesting lead fragments from gut piles left by hunters develop progressive neurological deterioration, seizures, and death without treatment. Wildlife rehabilitation centers treat hundreds of lead-poisoned eagles annually, and recovery is possible but involves weeks of chelation therapy during which animals suffer. Power line strike injuries cause fractures and burns. Transitioning hunters to non-lead ammunition is the single highest-impact welfare intervention for eagles — it eliminates the primary exposure pathway.