Bald eagle found unable to fly in cemetery. Rescuers couldn’t save her from poisoning

UPDATE: The bald eagle known as MK died as a result of her illness, according to a March 1 update from the New England Wildlife Center. “After a valiant fight her system was simply no longer able to keep up,” the center stated.

The original story continues below.

A bald eagle that was found poisoned and too weak to fly is in critical condition in a Massachusetts animal hospital.

The female bird was discovered on the ground in distress at a cemetery in Arlington on Feb. 27, according to a statement from the New England Wildlife Center.

She was transported to the wildlife center and the veterinary staff began stabilizing her.

When admitted, she was “severely anemic, lethargic, and (barely) able to stand.”

A physical examination and lab work strongly indicated that she had consumed a rodent that had ingested rat poison, according to the wildlife center.

“We have started treatments to help counteract the clotting effects the poison causes as well as fluids, pain meds, and oxygen support,” the wildlife center said.

The eagle was monitored throughout the night, and “remains in very rough shape,” according to a Feb. 28 update from the wildlife center. Veterinary staff hope her condition will improve soon.

Animals are regularly exposed to food tainted with rodent poison, which triggers uncontrollable bleeding, the wildlife center said.

The bird, known as MK, gained a wide following in Massachusetts, the wildlife center said. She and her mate, known as KZ, reside near the Mystic River and are viewed as an “ecological success story.”

Bald eagle populations declined precipitously in America in the 1950s and 1960s on account of the extensive use of DDT, a toxic pesticide, according to the Massachusetts Audubon Society.

The federal government banned DDT in 1972, and bald eagle populations across the country have recovered. In recent years, several bald eagle nests have been documented in Massachusetts, according to the audubon society.

This story was originally published February 28, 2023 at 4:03 PM with the headline "Bald eagle found unable to fly in cemetery. Rescuers couldn’t save her from poisoning."