Turkey vultures provide irreplaceable ecological services through carrion removal but face threats from lead poisoning from ingested bullet fragments in carcasses left by hunters.
Lead poisoning from ingested bullet fragments in gut piles causes progressive neurological damage in vultures leading to weakness, inability to fly, and death. Vultures scavenging gut piles left by deer hunters are regularly exposed to lead fragments from rifle bullets that shatter on impact. The use of non-lead ammunition eliminates this exposure entirely. Given the ecological service vultures provide in preventing disease spread through rapid carrion removal, their welfare protection also directly benefits human and ecosystem health.