When people see a bald eagle, many think of the founding blocks of America: truth, justice and freedom. But in Minnesota, 13 of these distinguished birds of prey were sickened after eating improperly discarded euthanized animals in the Pine Bend Landfill, according to ABC News.
ABC News said that when the birds were found, “some of them were lying motionless, face down in the snow, and Raptor Center workers weren’t sure if they were still alive.”
Ten birds are currently being treated at the University of Minnesota Raptor Center, with three of them also battling lead poisoning. Of the three that perished, one died from bird flu, with the two others found dead near the landfill.
“Veterinarians suspect that the eagles that died had eaten part of a carcass of an animal that had been euthanized with pentobarbital, and investigators confirmed that some euthanized animals had been brought to the landfill on Dec. 2,” ABC News reported.
Animals who have been euthanized are supposed to be thrown out in such a way where other wildlife is unable to consume their corpses.
The good news? The 10 birds are expected to make a full recovery.
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