Lead fragments from rifle ammunition contaminate carcasses and gut piles, poisoning eagles, condors, and other scavengers across North America and Europe.
Lead poisoning is one of the most preventable causes of raptor mortality globally. Eagles and condors that ingest lead-contaminated gut piles and carcasses experience progressive neurological damage including loss of coordination, inability to fly, and eventual death. The poisoning is slow and painful, with affected animals sometimes surviving for days to weeks in a progressively incapacitated state. The transition to lead-free hunting ammunition eliminates this welfare harm almost completely, and performance testing confirms that lead-free alternatives are effective substitutes for hunters.