Pair of wildlife shelters take in 5 bald eagles sick with barbiturate poisoning

A pair of western Washington wildlife shelters worked this week to nurse five sick bald eagles back to health.

The eagles were showing signs of barbiturate poisoning, which happens when the birds scavenge from carcasses of animals euthanized with barbiturates and not disposed of properly.

A sergeant with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife picked the eagles up and took them to Raindancer Wild Bird Rescue in Olympia on Tuesday, where they received fluids and other care. On Wednesday, the eagles were transferred to West Sound Wildlife Shelter due to its larger staff and facilities.

The eagles received further care at West Sound Wildlife Shelter and as of Thursday, all five are alert and standing.

“The Shelter is so deeply thankful for our partnership with Raindancer Wild Bird Rescue and all the other Wildlife Rehabilitation organizations in our region,” West Sound said in a Facebook post. “It truly does take a village to save these majestic animals.”

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