Sickened Eagles Raise Issue of Pharmaceutical Wastes

Date: May 15, 2012

Source: Wausau Daily Herald

Seven bald eagles living near Eagle River, WI were found nearly comatose after eating euthanized cats that were illegally dumped in the Vilas County landfill near there. The Wausau Daily Herald reported that federal prosecutors with the US Fish and Wildlife Service and Wisconsin DNR traced the animals back to the county Humane Society. All seven birds have been nursed back to health and released, an eighth was found dead at the landfill. The story is emblematic of the rising risk of pharmaceutical waste to the environment. The US EPA is still wrestling with how to regulate pharmaceutical waste without discouraging communities from setting up take-back programs.

See also: "Cause behind sickened eagles discovered," (www.wausaudailyherald.com/article/20120515/WDH0101/205300302/Cause-behind-sickened-eagles-discovered).

See also: "EPA Considers New Pharmaceutical Waste Rules," (www.wasteinfo.com/news/wbj20120509J.htm), May 2, 2012.

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