Mysterious condition baffles scientists and defies explanations

Dec 30, 2013 15:37 GMT  ·  By

Over the past few weeks, large numbers of bald eagles have been discovered along the Great Salt Lake, in northern and central Utah, suffering from a mysterious condition. More than 20 of the majestic birds have died over the past two months alone, and scientists are at a loss to explain how and why that happened.

Bald eagles are not usually fond of contact with humans, and prefer to keep to themselves. However, hunters, farmers and fishermen in five Utah districts have reported finding specimens lying on the ground, gripped by convulsions, seizures, head tremors, and paralysis in their legs, wings and feet.

The Great Salt Lake is a very popular winter destination for hundreds of bald eagles. They come here every year to enjoy the weather, as well as the abundance of fish that can be found in freshwater bays nearby. However, something in this environment is killing them, and researchers do not know what that is.

Thus far, experts established that the birds were not shot, poisoned, did not have encephalitis, were not infected with the West Nile virus, and were not contaminated with lead. Some scientists suggest that their deaths may be connected to the deaths of thousands of eared grebes that was recorded in the state starting November, PhysOrg reports.