Raptors (birds of prey like eagles and owls) will often scavenge for food. It can sometimes take several months for birds with lead poisoning to recover.
Even a low level of lead in a bird’s body can affect their decision-making and coordination. At the same time as the bird was recovering a ban on the use of lead ammunition was being overturned by Ryan Zinke, the U.S. Secretary of the Interior.
The ban had been put into place to help save the lives of birds of prey and other animals on wildlife refuges.
