Ban on toxic lead in hunting and fishing gear would save millions of birds

by Debbie Schlenoff

It is estimated that 10-20 million birds die each year from lead poisoning as a result of ingesting lead shot, bullets, bullet fragments, or prey contaminated with lead ammunition. This August, several conservation groups submitted a petition to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requesting a ban on the use of toxic lead in hunting ammunition and fishing tackle. The American Bird Conservancy, Center for Biological Diversity, Association of Avian Veterinarians, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, and a hunter's group called Project Gutpile are requesting the ban under the Toxic Substances Control Act, which regulates dangerous chemicals in the United States. The request is not without precedent; the EPA has already taken steps to reduce exposure and lead in the environment by banning the use of lead in such things as gasoline, paint, cooking utensils, water pipes, and wheel weights. There has been a federal ban on lead shot for hunting waterfowl since 1991 and there are sporadic local regulations prohibiting the use of lead shot in isolated areas, including many wildlife refuges in Oregon. However, to date, there is no federal regulation that encompasses most habitats and provides genuine protection for wildlife. Thousands of tons of lead from shot and fishing gear continue to contaminate the environment.

Eagles, hawks, condors, and other birds that scavenge on shot prey or the gut piles left after hunting are susceptible to the effects of lead poisoning, which include neurological dysfunction, organ damage, immune suppression, and behavioral changes that make the animal more susceptible to starvation and predation. Many raptor rehabilitation centers in Oregon and elsewhere routinely report struggles to help lead-poisoned birds. Wetland birds such as flamingoes, rails, shorebirds, terns, and herons often consume fish with high lead levels due to lead shot and sinkers. Studies have shown that seed eating birds such as mourning doves and woodpeckers as well as upland game birds such as chukars, cranes, rails, and partridges also ingest lead shot. The 1991 ban on lead shot for hunting waterfowl has resulted in a reduction in lead mortality in several species of waterfowl. Many believe that this ban has also helped Bald Eagle populations to recover. However, the use of lead sinkers from fishing is still a problem for swans, geese, ducks, and loons. Each year many Bald Eagles continue to be poisoned by ingesting food contaminated with lead. Scientific literature documents harm from lead poisoning in over 75 species of birds as well as in many other types of animals. It is very easy for birds to mistake small lead sinkers for seeds or pebbles. Many birds routinely swallow small pebbles to aid in grinding food in their digestive system.

The effects of lead poisoning on people are also well documented. Several studies have shown a correlation between the use of lead ammunition and elevated human lead concentrations. Significantly, blood lead levels are higher in people who eat game meat and higher during the hunting season. Fragmentation of bullets makes it difficult for game consumers to protect themselves and their families from the lead ammunition used to hunt game. A recent study in Minnesota found dust-sized particles of lead up to a foot and a half away from the bullet wound. Another recent study found that the majority (up to 87 percent) of cooked game killed by lead ammunition contained levels of lead determined unsafe for consumption.

Steps to limit lead in the environment and protect both wildlife and people are welcome. Nevertheless, some firearms groups are opposing the petition. Naysayers assert that there is no scientific support for the ban, but the petition references about 500 scientific studies, most of which are peer-reviewed. Some erroneously claim that the ban is an effort to limit hunting. Those same claims were made when the 1991 restriction on lead shot for waterfowl went into effect and, yet, waterfowl hunting (measured by sale of duck stamps) has continued to rise. Today in areas where lead shot is restricted to protect the California condor and others, the hunting communities continue to thrive. Hunters have admirably contributed greatly to the protection of wildlife through fees on licenses and gear. A more comprehensive lead ban would help ensure that unnecessary poisoning does not undermine the efforts of hunters in the very areas they work to protect. Today all of the lead-containing products mentioned in the petition are available in non-toxic form. The wider distribution and sale of these products will help to drive prices down. Resources including a long list of manufacturers that provide non-lead shot are available on the web. "As a hunter in California, compliance with the recent state non-lead ammunition regulation has been simple," said Anthony Prieto, a hunter and co-founder of Project Gutpile. "I still get to hunt, there is no toxic impact on wildlife or my health, and copper bullets shoot better."

For more information, visit American Bird's lead information webpage.

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Guidelines protecting birds and bats adopted for Columbia Plateau wind power development

By Jim Maloney

After more than a year of meetings, e-mails, and conference calls, an all day work session on September 29 culminated in an agreement establishing a set of voluntary guidelines to guide assessment and development of wind energy facilities on the Columbia Plateau in Oregon.

Parties to the agreement include representatives from state and federal agencies, counties, wind energy developers, and environmental organizations. The environmental organizations participating included Lane Audubon, Portland Audubon, and The Nature Conservancy.

While the Guidelines focused on the Columbia Plateau, where most wind development in the state has occurred, they are meant to serve as a template for siting guidelines in other geographic regions in the state. Local modifications would be required to reflect differences in habitat types, bird and bat populations, and migratory routes.

In Oregon, proposed wind projects greater than 105 Megawatts must seek state approval. Smaller projects can apply directly to the county in which the project is proposed. While the state has a formal process and established rules for permitting and siting energy facilities, most counties do not have a uniform or detailed set of requirements. While they are not mandatory, these new guidelines, (the Oregon Columbia Plateau Ecoregion Wind Energy Siting and Permitting Guidelines), are meant to provide developers and counties the basic information necessary to evaluate whether and how a project can be built with minimal impacts to birds and bats.

Copies of the Guidelines and supporting letters are available at the following links or at www.rnp.org.

For more information contact Jim Maloney at jimgmal (at) comcast.net.

Voluntary Guidelines - Assessment and Development of Wind Energy Facilities on the Columbia Plateau in Oregon - Sept 2008

• Guidance Roll-out, October 14, 2008 - Rose Owens, ODFW
• Letter Supporting Guidelines, October 13, 2008 - Suzanne Lita Liou, RNP
• Joint Agency Wind Guidelines Letter, October 8, 2008