String of poisonings on Vancouver Island leaves 6 eagles dead, 6 more sick

Six bald eagles have died and another six are in veterinary treatment after being poisoned.

On Wednesday, two bald eagles were brought into the VCA Canada Island Animal Hospital to be treated for poisoning with another 10 being brought in yesterday.

All the bald eagles were found on Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island, near Duncan.

According to a post on the Raptor Rescue Society Facebook page, six of the birds have died while another six remain in treatment.

Lynda Hodgkinson, Board of Directors, Chair of Fundraising Committee MARS Wildlife Rescue Centre has told NowMedia that the poisoning may be due to lead, often caused by hunters using lead bullets.

The Raptor Rescue also suspects that the birds may have been feeding on an improperly disposed of euthanized farm animal.

“The birds needed to be emptied of their crop contents, provided with warmth, given activated charcoal and intravenous fluids,” writes the Facebook post.

Bald eagle’s with poisoning may look “sleepy” or “drunken” and “they make a horrible wheezing sound as they struggle to breathe,” said Hodgkinson.

Anyone who finds an animal suspected of poisoning should contact emergency wildlife services immediately.