Staff members from the Tamarack Wildlife Center in Saegertown in Crawford County operate on a bald eagle. Wildlife rehabilitators said many eagles died in 2021 from lead toxicity after eating remains of hunter-killed game containing lead ammunition. Submitted photo

Last year was not a good year for eagles in the region.

Wildlife rehabilitators said many eagles died from lead toxicity after eating remains of hunter-killed game containing lead ammunition.

They said switching to nonlead bullets and shotgun shells would be a simple solution to the often tragic problem.

Carol Holmgren, executive director and principal licensed wildlife rehabilitator at Tamarack Wildlife Center in Saegertown in Crawford County, said all 14 eagles brought to the center last year died and 57% of those eagles had lead poisoning.

“Last year was a rough year for survivability,” Holmgren said.

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