PHOENIX — A new study from the journal Science found that almost half of bald eagles and golden eagles in Arizona and 37 other states suffered from chronic lead poisoning. The main way eagles consume lead is through their diet. Lead bullets and shot used in hunting game and varmints break apart on impact, and […]
Tag: lead ammunition
European raptors including eagles, goshawks and vultures significantly reduced in number due to lead ammunition poisoning
According to the first study to evaluate these implications across Europe, poisoning caused by preying on or scavenging animals shot by hunters using lead ammunition has left many raptors—or birds of prey—far smaller than they should be. When birds such as eagles and Red Kites scavenge carcasses or consume injured animals with toxic lead pieces […]
The voluntary phase-out of lead shot in the UK has had almost no effect, with lead discovered in 99.5 percent of birds killed
According to a survey, a voluntary phase-out of lead shot in the UK had almost no effect, with 99.5 percent of birds killed containing the hazardous metal. While other sectors have been compelled to phase out lead, which has been banned from paint and fuel for decades, shooters are still allowed to use it, despite […]
Bald eagle rebound stunted by poisoning from lead ammunition
Bald eagle populations have slowly recovered from near devastation after the government banned DDT in 1972, but another ongoing issue has weakened that rebound—lead poisoning from gunshot ammunition. A new study, published in the Journal of Wildlife Management, finds that despite increasing numbers of bald eagles, poisoning from eating dead carcasses or parts contaminated by […]
Is it the last blast for lead shot? Biggest shake-up in 500 years for game shooting as ban looms on ‘toxic’ ammunition
Under consideration is the phasing out of lead ammunition across all environments in England, Scotland and Wales. Shooting organisations say that the full legal ban could take as long as eight years to come into force – although they are encouraging their members to move to non-lead ammunition within the next four years. Tim Bonner, […]
POLL: Should there by a full ban on all lead ammunition and the use of lead fishing weights?
Lead shot is to be banned from all wetlands in the European Union, in a decision that is expected to pave the way for phasing out all toxic ammunition. The European parliament voted against objections lodged by far-right parties, allowing the European commission to introduce the new regulations by the end of the year. The […]
Bald eagles across the United States are dying from lead poisoning
Bald eagles across the United States are dying from lead bullets — but it’s not because they’re being shot. The Cape Fear Raptor Center, North Carolina’s largest eagle rehab facility, has treated seven eagles in the past month for lead poisoning, executive director Dr. Joni Shimp told CNN. Since November, at least 80% of the […]
Alarm over mass vulture poisoning in South Africa
DURBAN, South Africa — Another mass vulture poisoning incident has ended the year on a sour note for Wildlife ACT rangers in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal. Soon after releasing two rehabilitated vultures, rescued from a different poisoning scene earlier this year, WildLife ACT was alerted to another incident on 23 Dec, on Rolling […]