Lead poisoning from ammunition fragments in game carcasses and wounded quarry species is emerging as a significant hidden welfare threat to recovered peregrine falcon populations.
Peregrine lead poisoning is an emerging welfare concern that mirrors well-documented lead poisoning in red kites, white-tailed eagles, and other scavengers. While peregrines are primarily predators rather than scavengers, their consumption of wounded or shot quarry species creates dietary lead exposure. Individual birds that develop neurological signs from lead poisoning experience progressive welfare deterioration before death. Mandatory non-lead ammunition would eliminate this exposure pathway entirely - a single regulatory change with population-wide welfare benefit for all raptors and scavenging species. The transition to non-lead alternatives is technically feasible across all calibres and game types.