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Get the lead out!
December 22, 2011
Washington, Iowa
To the Editor:
Although toxic lead has been removed from paint and gasoline, tons of lead are shot or left in the wild every year from hunting, recreational shooting and fishing, where it enters the food chain and endangers wildlife. Birds and mammals are needlessly poisoned by lead and die painful deaths. Mounting evidence points to lead ammunition and fishing tackle as the ...
Tish Yoder
Oct. 2, 2018 8:44 am
December 22, 2011
Washington, Iowa
To the Editor:
Although toxic lead has been removed from paint and gasoline, tons of lead are shot or left in the wild every year from hunting, recreational shooting and fishing, where it enters the food chain and endangers wildlife. Birds and mammals are needlessly poisoned by lead and die painful deaths. Mounting evidence points to lead ammunition and fishing tackle as the source of lead poisoning for at least 130 wildlife species.
This is not a gun-control or anti-hunting issue. This is a toxic-substance issue.
There are plenty of alternatives to lead and the cost is coming down. I have spoken to hunters and fishermen and believe they all want to do the right thing. They like being outdoors and are interested in all wildlife and conservation. The people I?ve spoken to were unaware of the consequences of their actions.
Nontoxic alternatives such as steel, copper, tungsten and bismuth are appearing in new kinds of bullets and even fishing weights.
On Oct. 22, 2011, I was witness to a release of a juvenile bald eagle back to the wild. This magnificent bird had been hit by a car while eating road kill. She had measurable lead in her and as a result her eyesight was temporarily impaired. Luckily she escaped broken bones and with the expert care at SOAR (Saving Our Avian Resources) in Dedham, Iowa, this bald eagle returned to the wild.
On that same day, SOAR brought an adult bald eagle used for education programs. Her name is Thora, and she had been at SOAR since March 2011 ¾ a perfect specimen of our national symbol, except for one thing. Thora is blind! Even with treatment, this result of lead poisoning may be permanent. I find this heartbreaking.
My challenge to everyone who reads this letter is to:
1. Spread the word ¾ talk to your friends and especially those who hunt or know someone who does.
2. If you hunt, switch to nontoxic ammunition.
3. If you fish, replace lead tackle with nontoxic materials.
Please help Get The Lead Out!
Tish Yoder
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