Going Green

I came across an article in the Durango Herald the other day about the harmful effects of the lead shot that is scattered throughout our hunting areas in the woods. Shot is the bi-product of lead based ammunition and it is very toxic. The article was explaining how the lead shots were leaking into the soil, and in turn into the ground water, and was being eaten by all sorts of wildlife species. The article stated:

In the late 1800s, biologists began reporting that waterfowl and upland birds were exhibiting symptoms of lead poisoning. Game birds were ingesting lead shotgun pellets while foraging or seeking grit. Because bird hunting is often concentrated within small areas, significant quantities of lead were deposited in important animal habitats.

By the 1960s, more than 100,000 lead pellets per acre could be found in some wetlands, and an estimated 1.5 million-2.5 million birds died annually from ingesting lead shot. Further, raptors such as eagles and hawks were dying after scavenging lead-poisoned carcasses or capturing and eating birds wounded by lead shot.

Based on new understandings of this widespread problem, the use of lead pellets for waterfowl hunting was banned in the United States in 1991, and in Canada in 1997.

Initially, hunters and manufacturers raised concerns over the efficacy and cost of non-toxic shot. However, education, research and development smoothed the transition to effective, relatively low-cost and lead-free pellets made of steel, tungsten, nickel, bismuth and tin.

These bans have greatly reduced waterfowl poisoning across North America, as lead gradually is removed from areas where it was accessible.

The article was mainly informing people of the importance of using "green ammunition". The Forest Service is in the process of trying to clean up the most contaminated areas. The link for the article is: http://durangoherald.com/sections/Features/Outdoors/2008/10/10/Research_makes_case_for_green_bullets/