Thirteen Bald Eagles Were Found Dead In A Field, Prompting An Investigation By Authorities Into Local Farmers To Determine The Cause Of Their Deaths.

Note: This story was originally reported in February 2016.

Wildlife experts have made progress in understanding the deaths of 13 bald eagles, although the identity of the responsible party remains unknown.

Some of the eagles, still without their characteristic white head feathers, were found to have been poisoned by carbofuran, a highly toxic pesticide.

According to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, even a single grain of this pesticide can be fatal to small birds. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) banned its use on food crops in 2009.

Toxicologist Karyn Bischoff from Cornell University noted that many individuals may still possess old containers of this pesticide stored away.

In February 2016, a man searching for deer antlers on Maryland’s eastern shore discovered four of the deceased eagles and alerted the Maryland Natural Resources Police. This led to the discovery of nine additional dead birds at the Federalsburg location.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service conducted a six-month investigation, interviewing numerous landowners and property managers in the area. John LaCorte, a special agent with the agency, remarked, “There was no smoking gun,” expressing frustration about the lack of clear evidence.

The EPA has reported that this pesticide previously caused the deaths of up to two million birds each year. The pellet form was banned in the mid-1990s, while bald eagles were still considered endangered.

Despite the ban, reports suggest that farmers may still be using carbofuran to eliminate pests that feed on crops, including those related to illegal marijuana cultivation.

Bischoff described the effects of carbofuran on animals as particularly gruesome. The CDC warns that ingestion or inhalation of the pesticide can lead to symptoms such as muscle cramps, excessive salivation, dizziness, vomiting, and severe breathing difficulties, potentially causing unconsciousness. It can also result in the lungs producing excess fluids, leading to drowning in their own secretions.

The Fish and Wildlife Service conducted necropsies on six of the eagles, along with a raccoon found nearby. Tests confirmed the presence of carbofuran in both the birds and the raccoon.

LaCorte suggested it is possible that one of the bald eagles may have brought the raccoon from another location, where it was consumed by the other birds.
WATCH THE VIDEO BELOW: