Lead Impacts on Birds and the Environment

Audubon has worked for decades with a wide range of conservationists, including hunters and wildlife advocates, to ensure the health of birds and ecosystems. Audubon supports policies that work to remove lead from the environment.

• Lead is toxic to both birds and people.

• Scientific evidence shows that more than 100 species of birds are poisoned every year by lead ammunition.

• The establishment of nontoxic shot zones has been shown, by scientific research, to radically reduce the number of bird deaths from lead poisoning.

Learn more about how lead bullets are stunting the Bald Eagle's recovery. 

In the News:

Bills would ban lead in fishing gear, a bird killer, Star Tribune, by Jim Williams

DNR wants limited ban on lead shot some hunters opposed, MPR News, Matt Sepic 

Learn more about how lead bullets are stunting the Bald Eagle's recovery. 

Other Rescources: 

• MN DNR Q & A About Nontoxic Shot

• Nontoxic Shot Advisory Committee

• About Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs)

• A Review of Lead Poisoning from Ammunition Sources in Terrestrial Birds

• Journal of Wildlife Management: Ingestion of Lead and Nontoxic Shotgun Pellets by Ducks in the Mississippi Flyway