apparantly the eagle thinks mercury tastes good as well

[Guest guest]

Bald Eagle Tests Positive for Mercury

 

September 13, 2005 — By Associated Press

An ailing bald eagle found by a southwestern Indiana farmer tested positive for

mercury poisoning, but state wildlife officials say it's unclear if the bird was

poisoned by eating tainted fish it caught in Indiana waterways.

 

An environmental watchdog group says Indiana ranks fourth nationally in mercury

emissions from coal-fired power plants that eventually end up in the food chain.

 

" To me, this eagle is sending a very strong message that people should pay

attention to, " said Catherine Bowe of the National Wildlife Federation.

 

But Mark Pochon, property manager at Hovey Lake, said the bird might have

traveled a great distance.

 

" She could have picked that up anywhere in country; they're travelers, " he said.

" Our hope is she picked it up over a very long time, but we will keep looking to

see if there are any other (cases). "

 

The eagle, an older female, was lethargic and unable to fly when a farmer found

it in June and turned over to officers at the Hovey Lake Fish and Wildlife Area

in southwestern Indiana.

 

Evansville veterinarian Gregg Gormley examined the eagle, and at first suspected

the bird might have suffered lead poisoning from eating fish contaminated with

lead shot or sinkers.

 

Instead, blood tests found normal lead levels but elevated levels of mercury, he

said.

 

The eagle was released weeks later after being treated with medicine to rid its

body of the toxic metal.

 

Indiana ranked fourth nationally in mercury emissions from power plants that

fouled waterways, according to a report issued last week by the U.S. Public

Interest Research Group, an environmental group.

 

The area where the eagle was found, tucked near the Kentucky and Illinois

borders at the confluence of the Wabash and Ohio rivers, has among the greatest

concentrations of coal-fired power plants in the nation.

 

David Evers, director and chief scientist at the Maine-based Biodiversity

Research Institute, said he doubts that mercury caused the Indiana eagle's

problems. Damage done by mercury is irreversible, he said, but the eagle

recovered and was released in July after Gormley treated it with a chemical to

which mercury binds and passes out of the body.

 

" I don't know what else it could be, " said Gormley, who has treated wild birds

for a decade. " There were no other physical changes " besides neurological

problems, " and it's no secret there are sources of fish laden with mercury. "

 

Source: Associated Press

 

 

 

 

I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can still do

something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do the

something that I can do.

[Guest guest]

Now, let me guess. They turned the bird loose in the same area where the

mercury contamination is.

 

Lynda

-

" fraggle " <EBbrewpunx

<jdh_666; <lettuceheads >;

<TFHB >;

Tuesday, September 13, 2005 10:16 AM

apparantly the eagle thinks mercury tastes good as

well

 

 

> Bald Eagle Tests Positive for Mercury

>

> September 13, 2005 â? " By Associated Press

> An ailing bald eagle found by a southwestern Indiana farmer tested

> positive for mercury poisoning, but state wildlife officials say it's

> unclear if the bird was poisoned by eating tainted fish it caught in

> Indiana waterways.

>

> An environmental watchdog group says Indiana ranks fourth nationally in

> mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants that eventually end up in

> the food chain.

>

> " To me, this eagle is sending a very strong message that people should pay

> attention to, " said Catherine Bowe of the National Wildlife Federation.

>

> But Mark Pochon, property manager at Hovey Lake, said the bird might have

> traveled a great distance.

>

> " She could have picked that up anywhere in country; they're travelers, " he

> said. " Our hope is she picked it up over a very long time, but we will

> keep looking to see if there are any other (cases). "

>

> The eagle, an older female, was lethargic and unable to fly when a farmer

> found it in June and turned over to officers at the Hovey Lake Fish and

> Wildlife Area in southwestern Indiana.

>

> Evansville veterinarian Gregg Gormley examined the eagle, and at first

> suspected the bird might have suffered lead poisoning from eating fish

> contaminated with lead shot or sinkers.

>

> Instead, blood tests found normal lead levels but elevated levels of

> mercury, he said.

>

> The eagle was released weeks later after being treated with medicine to

> rid its body of the toxic metal.

>

> Indiana ranked fourth nationally in mercury emissions from power plants

> that fouled waterways, according to a report issued last week by the U.S.

> Public Interest Research Group, an environmental group.

>

> The area where the eagle was found, tucked near the Kentucky and Illinois

> borders at the confluence of the Wabash and Ohio rivers, has among the

> greatest concentrations of coal-fired power plants in the nation.

>

> David Evers, director and chief scientist at the Maine-based Biodiversity

> Research Institute, said he doubts that mercury caused the Indiana eagle's

> problems. Damage done by mercury is irreversible, he said, but the eagle

> recovered and was released in July after Gormley treated it with a

> chemical to which mercury binds and passes out of the body.

>

> " I don't know what else it could be, " said Gormley, who has treated wild

> birds for a decade. " There were no other physical changes " besides

> neurological problems, " and it's no secret there are sources of fish laden

> with mercury. "

>

> Source: Associated Press

>

>

>

>

> I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can still

> do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do

> the something that I can do.

>

>

>

> To send an email to -

>