Bald Eagle Found in Northwest Suburbs May Have Died from Bird Flu, Expert Says
Deadly Strain of Avian Influenza
A bald eagle was found dead in a forested area of the northwest suburbs, suspected to have died from bird flu. This is a worrying signal of the severity of the disease, not only for wild creatures but also for farm animals.
Bird Flu Outbreak
The male raptor, which may have been part of a pair of eagles that has long nested in Busse Woods just off the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway near Elk Grove Village, was found dead near the roost on February 3. The bird was subsequently tested, and the results indicated it had avian influenza.
How the Eagle Got Sick
There is no way to know exactly how the eagle got sick, but it is likely that the bird consumed infected prey, said Chris Anchor of the Cook County Forest Preserve District. “Right now, we’re seeing it in waterfowl, but we’re also seeing it in great horned owls, hawks, and eagles because they’ll feed on infected ducks and the like, dead or alive,” he said.
Bald Eagle Population
Not only are bald eagles the national bird, but they have “made a huge comeback from the brink of extinction,” Anchor says, adding that there are now six known pairs in Cook County. Besides the pair in Busse Woods, three are near Lake Calumet on the Far South Side, and two are in the Palos area of the south suburbs.
Federal Records
Federal records show hundreds of dead bald eagles have tested positive for bird flu since 2022, including six in Illinois, one of which was in Will County. Many more eagles likely have died from the disease but weren’t tested, experts say.
A Bald Eagle Found in Hinsdale was Euthanized
A bald eagle found last month in Hinsdale was euthanized because it was believed to have been sick from the disease, the Chicago Sun-Times reported. Bald eagles have had a tough go over the years, in large part because of the pesticide DDT that once was widely used.
The History of DDT
“Shortly after World War II, DDT was hailed as a new pesticide to control mosquitoes and other insects,” according to the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. “However, DDT and its residues washed into nearby waterways, where aquatic plants and fish absorbed it. Bald eagles, in turn, were poisoned with DDT when they ate the contaminated fish.”
Conservation Efforts
“There were more than 300,000 bald eagles in the lower 48 states as of several years ago, records show,” said Krysten Schuler, director of the Cornell Wildlife Health Lab in New York. “The eagle is our conservation success story. But lead poisoning has remained troublesome for the creatures, which sometimes feed on dead animals such as deer that were hunted and had fragments of lead pellets still in them. Similarly, eagles sometimes eat fish with lead tackle inside them.”
Conclusion
The death of the bald eagle in the northwest suburbs is a worrying sign of the severity of the bird flu outbreak. With bird flu also hitting chicken farms, egg shortages and rising egg prices have been common. The virus has also been found in mammals, including cows, and humans – raising fears it could lead to a new pandemic.
FAQs
* What is bird flu?
Bird flu, also known as avian influenza, is a type of influenza that affects birds.
* How is bird flu transmitted?
Bird flu is typically transmitted through contact with infected birds or their droppings.
* Can humans get bird flu?
Yes, in rare cases, humans can contract bird flu, particularly those who work with infected birds or come into close contact with them. However, the risk of transmission is low.
* What are the symptoms of bird flu?
The symptoms of bird flu in birds include lethargy, loss of appetite, and respiratory problems. In humans, the symptoms can include fever, cough, and fatigue.
