Well-known Massachusetts bald eagle tragically passes away after being poisoned

A well-known Massachusetts bald eagle has tragically passed away.

On Monday morning, New England Wildlife Centers admitted the eagle colloquially known as “MK” to their Cape hospital. She was found in a cemetery in Arlington down on the ground, weak and unable to get significant lift off the ground after many attempts to fly away.

She arrived in critical condition, severely anemic, lethargic, and barely able to stand.

Lab work and physical exam lead the team to strongly suspect anticoagulant rodenticide poisoning as the primary cause of her condition. This occurs when a raptor eats a rodent that has already ingested the poison.

Last night, MK succumbed to her illness. After a valiant fight her system was simply no longer able to keep up.

NEWC stated that it appears she spontaneously hemorrhaged and began bleeding internally. With the poison in her system, she did not have the ability to clot, and the bleeding was catastrophic and began to occlude her airway.

The veterinary team was by her side when it happened and was able to quickly clear her airway and intubate her, provide emergency drugs and fluids as her heart rate slowed, and eventually worked to do compressions to revive her. Sadly, it was not enough to bring her back. She was gone in a matter of minutes.

NEWC hopes that this tragedy leads to change.

“We hope her case will serve as a true wake up call for people to stop using SGARS and will ultimately lead to true systemic change. It is time to restrict the use of these poisons. Rodent control does not need to come at the expense of our natural heritage and ecosystem. We want to sincerely thank everyone who has shared their concern, kind words, and worked to get MK help. Our hearts go out to KZ and all of the people who loved her. If you would like to help, take the critical first steps to provide legislative change, please ask your local legislators to support and sponsor HD 577 – put forward by Rep. Hawkins and SD114 – put forth by Rep. Feeney. We will continue to fight for change and public more education. If you would like to help us continue to provide veterinary care to those that suffer and to help lead in the fight with local politicians and organizations, please consider donating in the memory of MK.”

MK was hatched in Waltham back in 2016 and she and her mate “KZ” attracted scores of fans as they have frequented the mystic River watershed.