Birds

Raptor Lead Poisoning: The Ammunition Connection

Lead poisoning from spent hunting ammunition kills tens of thousands of raptors annually; alternatives are available and increasingly adopted.

Key Facts

Studies find lead fragments in 70-100% of carcasses at sites available to scavenging raptors
Bald eagle lead poisoning kills an estimated 10,000-20,000 birds annually in the US
Lead bullets fragment extensively, leaving hundreds of fragments in gut piles
California condors have 97% lead blood levels above safe thresholds from ammunition
Non-lead ammunition is available for all calibers and performs equivalently for hunting

Welfare Considerations

Lead-poisoned raptors experience progressive neurological deterioration: loss of coordination, inability to fly, and eventually paralysis and death. The process can take days to weeks. Eagles and condors are particularly vulnerable as obligate scavengers who eat lead-contaminated gut piles left by deer hunters. The harm is entirely preventable by switching to non-lead ammunition, which is available and effective.

What You Can Do

Use non-lead ammunition for all hunting to prevent raptor poisoning
Bury or remove gut piles in raptor-use areas to prevent scavenging exposure
Advocate for non-lead ammunition requirements in California Condor habitat areas
Donate to raptors are the solution non-lead ammunition outreach programs
Support non-lead ammunition subsidies for hunters to accelerate adoption