8 Warren County bald eagles sickened, 1 found dead after feeding on landfill carcasses
WARREN COUNTY, N.J. — State and federal wildlife officials have determined that eight bald eagles in Warren County became ill after feeding on uncovered carcasses of euthanized farm animals at the Warren County Landfill in Oxford Township.
The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection said the eagles ingested medication used during the euthanasia process while scavenging at the landfill. A ninth eagle connected to the incident was found dead.
The illnesses were first reported in April after several bald eagles in Warren County were found weak, grounded or showing signs of distress.
The Raptor Trust, a wildlife rehabilitation organization based in Millington, Morris County, initially admitted four bald eagles from the area earlier in April. Two more eagles were admitted April 30 and two additional birds arrived May 1.
Officials initially said the birds appeared to be suffering from possible acute toxicity while laboratory testing and the investigation continued.
According to NJDEP Fish and Wildlife and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the investigation later determined the birds became sick after feeding on carcasses that had not been properly covered at the landfill.
Six of the eight eagles undergoing treatment at The Raptor Trust have since been released back into the wild. Two additional eagles remain under care.
“Six of the eight eagles we admitted from Warren County have been released, and we are cautiously optimistic that the others still in care may also recover and be released soon,” said Christopher D. Soucy, executive director of The Raptor Trust.
“We are always pleased when we are able to release a patient back into the wild — where they belong,” Soucy said.
Soucy thanked state and federal wildlife agencies, along with local animal control officers, for helping identify the source of the contamination and assisting with rescue and transport efforts.
“Without the cooperation of this group of partners, we could not have saved these birds,” he said.
NJDEP officials said the matter remains under review and the department is working with landfill staff to ensure required operating procedures are followed, including properly covering animal carcasses to prevent scavenging by wildlife.
