Bald eagles allegedly poisoned at Marion County Baseline Landfill
Ocala, Florida —The bald eagle—the symbol of our nation—which is protected under the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, faces a new threat in Marion County today.
Michelle Whitfield, Head of the wildlife department at the Animis Foundation, said bald eagles and other wildlife are being poisoned, but not how one would think.
The Animis Foundation alleges that the Marion County Animal Shelter has been dumping euthanized animals at the Marion County Baseline Landfill, which is located next to the shelter.
Whitfield said two years ago when a bald eagle was found dying at the landfill, Animis and Dr. Shannon Kennedy performed a toxicology screen on the eagle’s blood. She said the results were disturbing. Test results showed the eagle had been poisoned with phenobarbital, a drug commonly used by veterinarians to euthanize animals.
Phenobarbital is a barbiturate, which slows the activity of the brain and nervous system. Whitfield said it appears that the eagles are eating the dead animals; therefore, the phenobarbital is being passed onto the eagles.
more
http://www.ocalapost.com/bald-eagles-allegedly-poisoned-at-marion-county-landfill/
