All lived along 11 man-made lakes. I don't know what it is. N.C. Scientists suspect a toxic chemical of some kind, Murphy said, but no one knows what it is or where it's coming from. If it starts showing up in other areas, we could have hundreds of dead eagles. The disease causes microscopic lesions in the birds' brains.
Diseased birds fly or swim erratically or stumble and wobble on the ground.
Eagles have been seen flying into trees and rock ledges. Scientists tested for pesticides and heavy metals, but found nothing. Viruses and bacteria also were ruled out. Researchers now are turning their attention to algae because Pfiesteria and some other species produce toxins that affect the nervous system. One thought is that fish and smaller birds eat the algae, and eagles get the disease by eating the birds and fish.