How lead fishing weights and swan welfare intersect, and the ongoing campaign to protect swans from lead poisoning.
Lead poisoning in swans causes one of the most distressing forms of wildlife death. Lead fragments ingested from lost fishing weights accumulate in the gizzard and slowly poison the bird. The neurological effects cause progressive weakness, green diarrhea, drooping wings, and disorientation before death. Affected swans often appear in distress for days before death. The solution is simple - lead-free fishing weights are available and effective - making ongoing swan lead poisoning an entirely preventable welfare harm.