Sutton Avian Center Set To Offer Wildlife Conservation Education

Experts at the Sutton Avian Research Center are taking new steps to educate the public on wildlife conservation.

Last week we told you about a bald eagle named, Jay, who died a few days ago from lead poisoning.

1/25/2016 Related Story: Oklahoma Bald Eagle Battling Lead Poisoning Dies

Center representatives said they have a plan to prevent unnecessary deaths.

Bald eagles have only been off the endangered species list since 2007, and that's why it's so important for people at the Sutton Research Center to hold education demonstrations to make sure eagles like Fiona have a fighting chance at survival.

As an American symbol, it’s illegal to intentionally kill a bald eagle; but, some still die from an unnatural cause - lead poisoning.

"Yes it is a problem and it is happening in Oklahoma," said Angela Myers, program director for the Sutton Avian Research Center's lead abatement program.

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She said it only takes two lead shots to kill or cause irreversible damage to an eagle - a fact many don't know.

Myers said, "Even if the round says on there that it's copper jacketed, it has to be solid copper for it to not be toxic.”

So, she and her team are working on an education program that encourages the use of non-lead ammunition and fishing sinkers.

"Get out there, try to get involved with some of the shooting gun clubs in the area to be able to put on demonstrations and possibly let the hunters try some non-lead ammunition for free," she said.

Myers said, despite concern, copper rounds are accurate. She said making the switch isn't feasible for everyone, so she asks hunters to bury or take their kills with them.

"It's not anti-hunting, anti-fishing, it's just anti-lead,” she said. “Just trying to get the word out that this lead sinkers and ammunition is killing our bald eagles."

Sutton Research representatives said, in addition to them going out and giving education demonstrations, hunters and fishers should feel free to reach out to them to get a one on one demonstration.