Bald Eagle Maggie Dies of Lead Poisoning in Virginia

Experts believe eagles ingest lead by consuming ammunition fragments while scavenging.

Published on Mar. 10, 2026

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A bald eagle known as Maggie died Monday morning from lead poisoning after being found too weak to fly near her nest in Craig County, Virginia. Tests conducted at the Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center revealed Maggie had critically high levels of lead in her system, which experts believe she ingested by consuming fragments of ammunition while scavenging.

Why it matters

Bald eagles were once on the endangered species list, and experts warn that simple environmental hazards like lead poisoning could easily push them back toward that status if not addressed. The death of an adult breeding eagle like Maggie represents a significant loss for the local population, and the increased burden on her remaining mate could impact nesting success.

The details

Maggie had been documented at the nest with her mate for years. The Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center noted that while Maggie's mate is capable of caring for the nest alone, it will be more difficult without his partner. The wildlife center is currently focused on raising awareness about the dangers of lead poisoning and is considering potential legislative action to address the issue, as the problem is similarly affecting other species like waterfowl and vultures.

  • Maggie was found too weak to fly near her nest on Monday.
  • Maggie died from lead poisoning on Monday morning.

The players

Maggie

A bald eagle that died from lead poisoning in Craig County, Virginia.

Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center

The wildlife center that treated Maggie and is working to raise awareness about lead poisoning in wildlife.

Chester Leonard

The executive director of the Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center.

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What they’re saying

“It wasn't all that long ago that bald eagles were on the endangered species list, and if we're not careful, People can easily position them back there, and simple things like lead are completely avoidable.”

— Chester Leonard, Executive Director, Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center

“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

What’s next

The Southwest Virginia Wildlife Center is considering potential legislative action to address the issue of lead poisoning in wildlife.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing vulnerability of recovered species like the bald eagle to preventable environmental hazards, and the need for greater awareness and action to protect these iconic birds from threats like lead poisoning.