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Published March 08, 2010, 09:50 AM

Raptor center says birds harmed by lead

BOZEMAN, Mont. (AP) — Officials at the Montana Raptor Conservation Center near Bozeman say they have treated four raptors with lead poisoning since December.

Center Director Becky Kean says two of the birds, both bald eagles, died from the poisoning. Another bald eagle and a gold eagle are still being treated with chelation therapy.

Lead poisoning can cause birds to involuntarily clench their talons and make it impossible for them to stand. The birds can ingest lead when they eat carrion or gut piles left behind by hunters who killed animals with lead shot or lead bullets.

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