Bald eagles across the USA continue to die and suffer from lead poisoning caused by ingesting gut piles and carcasses containing fragments from lead rifle and shotgun ammunition.
Lead-poisoned eagles experience progressive neurological deterioration — initially unable to fly, they become unable to feed and eventually die from starvation or organ failure. Chelation therapy can save mildly poisoned birds if caught early, but most poisoned eagles die before being found. Treatment requires intensive care for weeks. Survivors may have permanent neurological damage. The suffering is entirely preventable if hunters use non-toxic ammunition — dozens of states and countries have adopted partial or full lead ammunition bans.