Golden eagles are apex raptors facing habitat loss, poisoning, and collision threats that impact individual welfare and population viability.
Wild golden eagles experience welfare challenges including lead toxicity from scavenging carcasses containing lead shot, electrocution on poorly designed power poles, and habitat fragmentation that forces birds into suboptimal territories. Injured eagles that survive often face chronic pain and reduced hunting ability. Conservation efforts increasingly focus on retrofitting dangerous infrastructure and transitioning hunters to non-toxic ammunition to reduce poisoning incidents.