Hunting: Lead ammunition banned for control of more nuisance birds

[Go Big Red!]

By Kevin Naze • For Wisconsconsinoutdoorfun.com • February 17, 2011

Two weeks after the Wisconsin Natural Resources Board spent four hours discussing lead in fishing tackle and ammunition — including listening to a federal scientist say that concern over costs of alternative ammo is "a red herring" — the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced it has banned the use of lead ammo for control of blackbirds, magpies, grackles, crows and cowbirds.

Nontoxic ammunition already is required for control of various other nuisance birds such as Canada geese and double-crested cormorants.

William Mueller, Conservation Chairman for the Wisconsin Society for Ornithology, a former longtime hunter, said he'd like to see more state hunters and anglers accept and promote the use of nonlead substitutes.

"No eagles, swans or loons should die because someone does not want to pay 50 cents more for something," Mueller said. "Most folks spend more on coffee in one week than they would spend on nonlead tackle in six months."

[FireRanger]

I guess I never realized how tasty lead is ! With all these animals consuming it.....maybe I should add it to my personal food pyramid. All kidding aside, I guess I'm no scientist. I would love to see the raw data on how they come up with these observations. I think we are all aware of the dangers of lead.....would just like to know how many animals ingest/absorb the lead that is lost through hunting and fishing at such a level that it causes harm to either them or the animal that makes a meal out of them.