Bird deaths ruffle feds

Officials from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are investigating the bizarre deaths of 22 bald eagles about two weeks ago in Kodiak, Alaska.

The federally protected birds were among about 50 that had gorged themselves on fish guts sitting in an uncovered truck operated by seafood company Ocean Beauty Seafoods. Covered in fish oil and guts, most of the dead birds were crushed by the fish waste. Unable to fly or clean themselves, two of them succumbed to cold temperatures, reported The Associated Press.

Workers from the fish plant and the federal agency managed to clean the surviving birds with warm, soapy water and transfer them to a warehouse to dry. Officials at Kodiak National Wildlife Refuge expect the birds to be released soon.