Hunters: Use Lead-Free Ammo to Save Eagles
Thousands of bald eagles die of lead poisoning when they eat the remains of game that hunters killed using lead ammunition.
The lead eventually paralyzes the bald eagles and renders them unable to eat. As a result, many starve to death. The following site claims that most US eagles suffer from lead poisoning: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/bald-eagles-golden-eagles-lead-poisoning-ammunition
Many hunters do not realize the harm that lead ammunition causes to wildlife. However, there is a simple two-point solution to save the eagles:
- Use lead-free ammunition for hunting.
- Spread the word so that other hunters also go lead-free for hunting.
Non-lead ammo is not hard to find. Check out my article on medium.com for a PDF containing many lead-free options.
Thank you for caring about wildlife and for keeping our bald eagles safe.
You can listen to this article at medium.com.
The Importance of Properly Disposing of Fishing Lines
From City Wildlife:
We need your help to get the word out!
People are killing wildlife without knowing it.
In July 2020 City Wildlife tried for weeks to catch a Mallard duck with a plastic ring stuck around her neck and bill. The duck could not eat. But she could fly well and she avoided capture every time. Sadly, after eight weeks of unsuccessful attempts to catch the bird, she was found dead of starvation at the Tidal Basin.
Fast forward to July of 2021. We are now trying to catch another duck. This one has fishing line and a bobber wrapped around her beak. If we can’t catch her, her chances for survival are very bleak. But again, the duck can fly, and she has eluded capture.
The real tragedy is that these needless deaths are easily prevented. People simply need to pick up their trash, especially fishing lines. Evidently, some people still do not know that.
So we're asking you to **COPY/POST/SHARE** this message with friends, family, and on your own social media pages. Please help us to spread the word that those discarded pieces of plastic, those snipped fishing lines, are DEADLY to wildlife.
Thank you!
Update (also from City Wildlife):
After the newsletter went to the printer, the Mallard made a full recovery and rejoined his flock at the Tidal Basin.
Endings like this, in which wild animals recover from the injuries that befall them in our built-up environment, only happen because you support our center. Thank you for caring and helping these animals!
To learn more about City Wildlife, check out their website at https://citywildlife.org/.
