Hunters and fishermen deposit tens of thousands of tons of lead into our environment every year. This causes the deaths of between 10 and 20 million birds and other animals, representing more than 130 species, due to lead poisoning.

This is a tragedy that previous administrations have tried to address through environmentally friendly policies, while others have taken a contrary approach in the name of populism and political gain.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service issued a ban on the use of lead ammunition and fishing tackle in 2017, a rule implemented on President Barack Obama's last day in office, aimed at protecting birds and fish from lead poisoning. A few days later, following the arrival of former Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke on horseback, the ban on lead was rescinded.

Source: Adobe Stock/RobertNyholm
Lead ammo was banned on public lands in 2017, but the ban was lifted days later.

"The revoked order would have stopped the needless, incidental poisoning of wild animals by toxic lead ammunition and fishing tackle on more than 150 million acres managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,” Wayne Pacelle, president and chief executive officer of the Humane Society of the United States told the Huffington Post.

The benefits of Zinke's rule change were questionable at best. U.S. Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke said allowing lead ammunition and fishing tackle opens recreational opportunities to more than just wealthy landowners, but a 2012 study from the University of Guelph found the retail price for most calibers of lead bullets was comparable to their non-toxic counterparts.

Source: Adobe Stock/Yevhen
Lead poisoning from ammunition fragments contributes to millions of animal deaths a year.

Lead poisoning from ammo is one of the biggest reasons California condors remain on the endangered species list, The Peregrine Fund reports. California passed a bill to phase out all lead hunting ammunition by 2019, hoping to protect the condors and countless other species, but bald eagles and other scavengers in the central and eastern U.S. are still in great danger. Bullet fragments in carcasses can easily make their way into birds' stomachs, making scavengers frequent victims of lead poisoning from lead ammunition.

Source: Adobe Stock/kaninstudio
There are a number of lead ammunition alternatives that are affordable to hunters, and safer to the environment.

Humans who consume animals killed with lead bullets are also at risk. According to a 2009 study from researchers at the University of North Dakota School of Medicine, 59 of 100 randomly selected packages of ground venison donated to the Community Action Food Pantry in North Dakota in the fall of 2007 were contaminated with lead fragments.

Photo: Humane Indiana Wildlife
Lead from buckshot is toxic to animals that ingest it.

"We’ve known for thousands of years that lead is a deadly toxin, yet it’s only in recent decades that we’ve taken it out of gasoline, paint, and other substances," Pacelle wrote. "The lingering effects of lead pipes still pose hazards for communities, as we have seen in the ongoing crisis in Flint, Michigan, and the larger debate over crumbling infrastructure in the United States. Why wouldn’t we also move to get lead out of the wildlife management profession, especially now that there are ready alternatives available to every single hunter and fisherman?"

Photo: Humane Indiana Wildlife
Bald Eagle 24-0045 died from severe lead toxicity while being cared for at Humane Indiana Wildlife.

The Tragic Tale of Bald Eagle 24-0045

When a sub-adult Bald Eagle, presumed male based on its size and weight, was found in distress at Potato Creek State Park, local birder Jeff B., with the help of park officials and a volunteer named Raven, quickly transported the bird to the Humane Indiana Wildlife facility.

Upon examination, the team prioritized tests for Avian Influenza and lead toxicity—both known for causing seizing, lethargy, and tremors in affected birds. The diagnosis was grim: a "Test Failed" readout on the Lead Care II machine indicated lead levels too high to measure, suggesting a lethal outcome was likely.

Despite immediate stabilizing care, including fluids and chelation therapy, the eagle succumbed to the lead poisoning overnight. This loss was not just a local tragedy but a stark reminder of the broader environmental crisis.

Photo: Humane Indiana Wildlife
X-Rays of Bald Eagle 24-0045.

The following investigations revealed that the lead source was not from being shot, but from ingested lead shot found in the eagle's stomach. This incident highlights the ongoing risk that discarded lead shot and fishing tackle pose to wildlife.

Continued Efforts and Advocacy

We have long known that lead is a potent neurotoxin, yet it remains pervasive in many hunting practices. The story of Bald Eagle 24-0045 is a harrowing example of the broader impact of these practices on wildlife.

While regulations exist, such as the requirement for non-lead shot for waterfowl hunting which has significantly reduced mortality in species like mallards, similar protections have not been universally applied to other wildlife species, including our national symbol, the bald eagle.

As concerned citizens, it is crucial to advocate for a ban on lead ammunition and fishing tackle on public lands, not just for the health of our wildlife but for the health of our entire ecosystem.

A growing number of concerned individuals are now calling for a renewed ban on lead ammunition and fishing tackle on public lands. Click the button below to join them in making a difference.