Warning: Graphic images in story.
Three bald eagles have been killed by interactions with humans in under a week on Vancouver Island, sparking concerns someone is hunting down the majestic birds.
One of the adult bald eagles was shot by a rifle, another was the victim of lead poisoning and another struck a powerline, the Duncan Raptor Rescue Centre says.
All of the birds had to be euthanized as a result.
“They didn’t stand a chance,” said veterinarian Dr. Ken Langelier, who treated the animals. “If there were any chance that they could’ve been saved and released, we would have taken every step to do that. But when we know that they’re suffering…it’s better they be euthanized than slowly die of starvation.”
Another eagle is expected to live after it was found wandering on the ground with a bullet wound near Nanaimo Lakes Road.
That eagle underwent a four-hour surgery and is expected to not only survive, but return to the wild.
Seven calls related to injured eagles have come in in the last week, something Langelier called unusual.
“Really concerning is the fact that all of the eagles we’re seeing are either maliciously hunted by a human, or indirectly affected,” he said.
Shooting bald eagles is illegal in Canada and can come with a hefty fine and suspension of a hunting license.
While most hunters are aware of the repercussions, experts say not many know eagles can get lead poisoning just by eating discarded carcasses.
