Lead-poisoned bald eagle admitted to The Raptor Center in Minnesota. The Raptor Center, University of Minnesota

The following are excerpts from a publication from the Michigan DNR that describes the danger of lead poisoning to our fish and other wildlife:

“There is evidence that lead poisoning through ingestion can occur in 130 wildlife species, but it’s a more serious issue in birds, which can get lead poisoning by ingesting lead pellets, bullet fragments or certain types of fishing tackle – which are used in hunting and fishing, two cherished, popular and legal outdoor traditions. A single lead sinker (a weight attached to fishing line) can kill a loon, while just one pellet can be toxic to waterfowl. 

The risk is quite real for bald eagles, too. Lead ammunition is a major source of lead exposure for bald eagles in the Midwest, and here in Michigan the top three mortality factors for these birds over the last three decades are trauma (car), trauma (unspecified) and lead poisoning – serious threats to the state’s 3,500-4,000 population.”

Safer, lead-free options 

• Copper, the most common alternative for ammunition (bullets and slugs), doesn’t fragment and has better killing power (larger wound channel) and better ballistics than lead. 
• Steel is another attractive option for ammunition (shotgun pellets), but, because it’s lighter than lead, requires a heavier load and a bigger propellant charge. 
• Alternative materials for sinkers and jigs include tungsten, tin and steel. Tungsten is 70% heavier than lead but costs more, and has gained popularity particularly for ice fishing. Tin has a lower density than lead and is malleable and easy to cast. Steel makes noise (an attractant for fish) and is harder than lead.

Want to learn more? Visit Michigan.gov/WDM for detailed info on lead exposure and poisoning in wildlife and other helpful resources. Contact: DNR wildlife biologist/pathologist Tom Cooley at 517-336-5034 or CooleyT2@Michigan.gov.”

Reference:
https://www.michigan.gov/-/media/Project/Websites/dnr/Images/WLD/misc/getting_the_lead_out.pdf?rev=d720d5b83d904230bc50192a1a0884ee