Evidence of the hazards of lead toxicity for wildlife populations and human health has been well documented over the past few decades. The National Wildlife Refuge System should be the pinnacle of wildlife protection and conservation on public lands, yet lead shot and fishing tackle continue to pose a threat. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s proposed rule for Station-Specific Hunting and Sport Fishing Regulations seeks to acknowledge and significantly reduce the effects of lead ammunition and tackle on national wildlife refuges across the country.
California condors | USFWS
Lead ammunition and fishing tackle have been used for centuries and are the most frequent cause of lead exposure in wildlife. In 1991, the United States banned the use of lead shot for waterfowl hunting. This ban has led to reduced rates of crippling in ducks and geese, reduced detectable blood lead concentrations in ducks, and decreased mortality of non-hunted duck species in the years following the ban.
We have clear evidence that lead exposure at high levels in humans can result in significant health issues. Yet our increasing understanding of the danger of exposure to lead has been slow to inspire expanded efforts to counter this known hazard through hunting and fishing activity regulations -- despite the availability of alternatives to lead for hunting and fishing.
Meanwhile, the use of lead shot for hunting other wildlife and lead tackle for fishing remains and continues to endanger the health of wildlife and humans.
Pacific loon on a tundra lake in Alaska | Peter Pearsall / USFWS
Many species of wildlife are affected by lead toxicity, but it is most common in raptors, scavengers, and waterbirds. In raptors or predatory birds, bioaccumulation through ingestion of prey species is problematic. Scavenger species, like the California condor, face the same issue with bioaccumulation while eating carrion. Species like the Bald eagle and vulture species have highly acidic stomachs, making them particularly susceptible to lead toxicity due to lead being broken down more readily in their stomach. A single lead sinker or jig is toxic enough to kill a loon when ingested.
The National Wildlife Refuge Association supports the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to remove lead hazards on refuges through its Station-Specific Hunting and Sport Fishing Regulations proposed rule. The National Wildlife Refuge Association acknowledges the need for an adjustment period so necessary administrative and practical changes can be made and implemented on these refuges; consequently, we urge that the four-year period proposed for phasing out the use of lead be shortened to eighteen months, which would allow for one full hunting season to educate hunters before the final change is made. The proposed rule, although only applied to acres of new lands opened to hunting, is a vital first step in reducing the damage caused by lead ammunition and tackle on national wildlife refuges across the country.