Bald Eagle Dies of Lead Poisoning at Virginia Wildlife Center

Maggie, a well-known bald eagle, passed away after being found too weak to fly beneath her nest.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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A bald eagle known as Maggie died from lead poisoning on Monday at the Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke. Maggie was found too weak to fly beneath her nest of eggs in Craig County, where she and her mate had been documented for years. Tests showed Maggie had critically high lead levels, which experts say eagles often consume from ammunition fragments while scavenging. The eagle's mate remains at the nest, now having to care for it alone.

Why it matters

Bald eagles were once on the endangered species list, and lead poisoning poses a serious threat to their recovery. This incident highlights the ongoing challenges wildlife centers face in treating birds affected by lead exposure, which is a growing issue impacting not just eagles, but also waterfowl and vultures.

The details

Maggie was taken to the Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center on Sunday, March 8, but sadly passed away the following day due to the lead poisoning. According to the center's executive director, Chester Leonard, nine out of 10 eagles admitted to the center last year had elevated lead levels. The center is now working to raise awareness and considering future legislative action to address the problem of lead poisoning in wildlife.

  • Maggie was found too weak to fly beneath her nest on Sunday, March 8, 2026.
  • Maggie passed away on Monday, March 9, 2026.

The players

Maggie

A bald eagle that was well-known to local wildlife watchers in Craig County, Virginia.

Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke

A wildlife center that treated Maggie and is working to raise awareness about the issue of lead poisoning in wildlife.

Chester Leonard

The executive director of the Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke.

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What they’re saying

“It's just, from our perspective, seeing these big, beautiful birds coming in that should normally be healthy and thriving, just kind of crashing our arms. It takes a toll on us, too. It's really an emotional moment having to deal with these patients.”

— Chester Leonard, Executive Director, Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center of Roanoke (WSET)

What’s next

The Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center is working to raise awareness about the issue of lead poisoning in wildlife and is considering future legislative action to address the problem.

The takeaway

This tragic incident with Maggie the bald eagle highlights the ongoing threat of lead poisoning to wildlife, even as bald eagles have made a remarkable recovery from being on the endangered species list. It underscores the critical role that wildlife centers play in treating these animals, and the need for greater awareness and action to prevent such avoidable deaths in the future.