News Animals

A toxin behind mysterious eagle die-offs may have finally been found

A 20-year search of water weeds and cyanobacteria has turned up a bird-killing toxin

two bald eagles in a tree

The bald eagle was the bird that started the decades-long quest to find the cause of mysterious avian die-offs at lakes in the southeastern United States. Now researchers think they’ve got the long-sought killer.

jaystout/Flickr (CC BY 2.0)

By Susan Milius

- More than 2 years ago

Mysterious deaths of bald eagles, mallards and other lake life in the southeastern United States have puzzled scientists for more than 20 years.