Get the Lead Out!
Any respectable outdoor enthusiast will tell you that forest and wildlife conservation isn’t just for hippies. As active members of the great outdoors, hikers, campers, hunters and anglers have a responsibility to maintain the beautiful environments we are so lucky to be able to enjoy.
One of the biggest threats to our forests is manmade lead items. Lead has no biologically beneficial role, yet it is often used in ammunition for upland hunting, line sinkers and other forms of fishing gear. Wildlife will often ingest spent lead shot and bullets, hooks and sinkers, which causes them to suffer negative behavioral, physiological and biochemical effects. In many cases, lead poisoning will lead to death.
Even animals that don’t ingest lead themselves can be exposed to it if lead products have dissolved and entered the groundwater. Here’s what you can do:
- Make sure the hunting equipment and fishing gear you are using is lead-free. Metals such as tin are much safer than lead and are readily available. Some companies even offer biodegradable fishing equipment.
- Safely remove any discarded metal items you find while hunting or fishing. Old bullet casings or sinkers can harm wildlife, even if an animal doesn’t ingest it.
- Educate others about the dangers of lead. The more people know how dangerous it can be to wildlife and plant life, the less likely they will be to use lead-based products.
For more information about lead, contact the United States Geological Survey.
