USGS National Wildlife Health Center necropsy and contaminant results for bald and golden eagles collected in 8 States from January 1, 2014, through December 31, 2017 to determine cause of illness/death and lead, mercury, and anticoagulant rodenticide exposure
Dates
Publication Date
2023-04-06
Start Date
2014-01-01
End Date
2017-12-31
Citation
Bodenstein, B.L., and Lankton, J.S., 2023, USGS National Wildlife Health Center necropsy and contaminant results for bald and golden eagles collected in 8 States from January 1, 2014, through December 31, 2017, to determine cause of illness/death and lead, mercury, and anticoagulant rodenticide exposure: U.S. Geological Survey data release, https://doi.org/10.5066/P9F3ZPD7.
Summary
The U.S. Geological Survey National Wildlife Health Center (NWHC) measured environmental contaminants in bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) and golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) to evaluate dietary exposure to lead, mercury, and anticoagulant rodenticides (AR), which was identified by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) as a priority issue of concern for the Mountain Prairie Region 6. Carcasses of bald eagles (n = 172) and golden eagles (n = 142) collected from North and South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Nebraska, and Kansas between 2014-2017 were assessed for cause of death and liver lead, mercury, and AR levels. Trauma, electrocution, and lead poisoning were the 3 leading causes of death, affecting 51%, 21%, [...]
Summary
The U.S. Geological Survey National Wildlife Health Center (NWHC) measured environmental contaminants in bald eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) and golden eagles (Aquila chrysaetos) to evaluate dietary exposure to lead, mercury, and anticoagulant rodenticides (AR), which was identified by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) as a priority issue of concern for the Mountain Prairie Region 6. Carcasses of bald eagles (n = 172) and golden eagles (n = 142) collected from North and South Dakota, Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, Nebraska, and Kansas between 2014-2017 were assessed for cause of death and liver lead, mercury, and AR levels. Trauma, electrocution, and lead poisoning were the 3 leading causes of death, affecting 51%, 21%, and 20% of eagles, respectively. Trauma was the leading cause of death for both species, while lead poisoning was the second leading cause of death for bald eagles (31%) and was only diagnosed as the cause of death in 7% of golden eagles. Elevated lead levels within the range of subclinical or clinical poisoning (>2 mg/kg wet weight) were present in 25% of eagles tested, including 36% of bald eagles and 11% of golden eagles. No association was detected between lead exposure and trauma, electrocution, or infectious disease. Mercury levels were considered high (>80 mg per kilogram dry weight) for only 2% of bald eagles and no golden eagles. Brodifacoum was the most common AR detected, present in 56% of eagles, including 70% of bald eagles and 39% of golden eagles. However, death was not directly attributed to AR toxicosis in any case.
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Related External Resources
Type: Related Primary Publication
Bodenstein, B.L., Lankton, J.S., Russell, R.E., and Schwarz, M.S., 2023, Haliaeetus leucocephalus (bald eagle) and Aquila chrysaetos (golden eagle) mortality and exposure to lead, mercury, and anticoagulant rodenticides in eight western and midwestern States, 2014–17: U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2023–1016, 23 p., https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20231016.
In this study we investigated bald and golden eagle mortalities in 8 states of the mid-western and western U.S. to document causes of death and identify toxins that may pose threats to their populations. Data were needed to inform USFWS regional programs aimed at reducing exposure to these substances. Results of this study provide baseline data on common causes of mortality and threats to eagles in Region 6 from lead, mercury, and rodenticide exposure and can be used to inform management decisions.
