19 Bald Eagles Die in Alaska

At Least 19 Bald Eagles Die in Alaska

KODIAK, Alaska (AP) — At least 19 bald eagles died Friday after gorging themselves on a truck full of fish waste outside a processing plant.

Fifty or more eagles swarmed into the truck, whose retractable fabric cover was open, after the truck was moved outside the plant, said Brandon Saito, a biologist with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service who coordinated the recovery operation.

The birds became too soiled to fly or clean themselves, and with temperatures in the mid-teens, began to succumb to the cold. Some birds became so weak they sank into the fish slime and were crushed.

The truck's contents had to be dumped onto the floor of the Ocean Beauty Seafoods plant so the birds could be retrieved. Some tried to scatter, but since they couldn't fly, wildlife officers soon retrieved them. The eagles were then cleaned with dish soap in tubs of warm water to remove the oily slime and warm them.

The survivors were taken to a heated fish and wildlife warehouse to recover, though some were in critical condition. Saito said they would be released as soon as they were dry and strong enough.

The dead birds will be shipped to a U.S. Department of Interior clearinghouse, where Native American groups could apply to be given the birds or their feathers for ceremonial purposes.

Requests for interviews from Ocean Beauty officials were not returned.

Commercial fishing is the main industry in Kodiak, a city of about 6,000 on Kodiak Island on the south coast of Alaska.

Sad.........Least they were not Eastern Wild Turkeys as Franklin had first proposed...... Much smarter bird.

A note to "YOU"..yes, "YOU"

19 Bald Eagles Die in... 01-12-2008 11:24 AM You said you weren't going to post any more. I guess you lied.

I changed my mind!
I refuse to be bullied anymore by a faceless, nameless piece of crap who has no other reason to be here execpt to harrass and bully me and others.

It is not gonna work any more!
So log on and off and post your insults, it no longer hurts me!!!

Get used to me, I am not leaving here!!!
Maybe someday you will be human enough to sign you name!

Originally Posted by Inkpen

A note to "YOU"..yes, "YOU"

19 Bald Eagles Die in... 01-12-2008 11:24 AM You said you weren't going to post any more. I guess you lied.

I changed my mind!
I refuse to be bullied anymore by a faceless, nameless piece of crap who has no other reason to be here execpt to harrass and bully me and others.

It is not gonna work any more!
So log on and off and post your insults, it no longer hurts me!!!

Get used to me, I am not leaving here!!!
Maybe someday you will be human enough to sign you name!

I know you ain't talkin' 'bout me?

That is such a sad story. I wonder if somone is going to take action against the trucking company. Terrible.

[kom526]

Originally Posted by Kain99

I wonder if somone is going to take action against the trucking company.

Why "take action"? What kind of action do you propose?

Originally Posted by kom526

Why "take action"? What kind of action do you propose?

Oh no... I don't propose action. I was just wondering if some greenpeace Peta organization would run with it.

Originally Posted by Kain99

Oh no... I don't propose action. I was just wondering if some greenpeace Peta organization would run with it.

There are fines for such things..and it does say that the net was not covering the bed of the truck.
The eagles, knowing where easy fish can be found, most likely hang out there all the time waiting for some left overs to fall out onto the ground...Bet they do it all the time...and I bet the trucks are covered all the time, execpt tis time.
I am sure USFW will investigate and levy fines if indicated to keep this from happening again.
Eagles are still protected birds.

Originally Posted by Inkpen

There are fines for such things..and it does say that the net was not covering the bed of the truck.
The eagles, knowing where easy fish can be found, most likely hang out there all the time waiting for some left overs to fall out onto the ground...Bet they do it all the time...and I bet the trucks are covered all the time, execpt tis time.
I am sure USFW will investigate and levy fines if indicated to keep this from happening again.
Eagles are still protected birds.

So are buzzards......but nobody cries when they are poisoned or shot.

Originally Posted by toppick08

So are buzzards......but nobody cries when they are poisoned or shot.

Actually buzzards are protected too and are reported to USFW, just like eagles, but they dont get the press like "our national bird", because they are "vultures" and so misunderstood!!
Vultures are neat birds..and very smart!!!