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Lancaster-area animal rehabilitation center treats an alarming number of animals with lead poisoning

A bald eagle, left, fights off a black vulture trying to move in on the fish the bald eagle caught off the Susquehanna River, Friday, Dec. 6, 2019, in Havre De Grace, Md.

 Julio Cortez / AP Photo

A bald eagle, left, fights off a black vulture trying to move in on the fish the bald eagle caught off the Susquehanna River, Friday, Dec. 6, 2019, in Havre De Grace, Md.

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On any given day, the Raven Ridge Wildlife Rehabilitation Center offers aid to raptors, like eagles and vultures, mammals and waterfowl that have been hurt or injured.

The Lancaster County center rehabilitates nearly 2000 animals every year and is also home to several non-releasable animals.

Tracie Young, the founder and director of the center says the center also treats an alarming number of cases of lead exposures among animals. The lead poisoning is the result of animals ingesting lead from ammunition and fishing sinkers left in the environment by hunters and fishermen. Testing and treating the animals is expensive and not always successful.

Tracie Young appears on Smart Talk Monday to talk about the scope of the problem.

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