Lawyer Sanders says Wildlife Society report warns of lead toxity harm to fish, birds and other wildlife from lead sinkers and lead shot.

According to a new Wildlife Society report, millions of pounds of lead used in hunting, fishing and shooting sports wind up in the environment each year and can threaten or kill wildlife. Lead is a metal with no known beneficial role in biological systems, and its use in gasoline, paint, pesticides, and solder in food cans has nearly been eliminated. Although lead shot was banned for waterfowl hunting in 1991, its use in ammunition for upland hunting, shooting sports, and in fishing tackle remains common. Lead exposure from ingested lead shot, bullets, and fishing sinkers also has been reported in reptiles, and studies near shooting ranges have shown evidence of lead poisoning in small mammals.

The Wildlife Society estimates that individual shooting ranges may receive as much as 1.5 to 23 tons of lead shot and bullets annually, and outdoor shooting ranges overall may use more than 80,000 tons of lead shot and bullets each year. Although precise estimates are not available for lead fishing tackle in the environment, about 4,382 tons of lead fishing sinkers are sold each year in the United States. As most fishermen are aware, lead weights are easy to lose due to snags and line breakage.

To obtain a copy of USGS’ report, "Sources and Implications of Lead-Based Ammunition and Fishing Tackle on Natural Resources," visit The Wildlife Society. Read more from the American Fisheries Society article (PDF) on the known and potential impacts of lead in shooting and fishing.

The Wildlife Society, an independent professional and scientific organization representing nearly 8,000 wildlife professionals. The chair of the committee that produced the technical review works for USGS. USGS thought the report to important that it issued a press release coordinated with our own.