Lead shot ingested from shooting fields continues to poison waterfowl and raptors decades after bans in many countries, requiring enforcement and alternatives.
Lead poisoning causes a painful, prolonged death involving neurological damage, weight loss, and weakness over days or weeks. Affected swans and ducks are frequently found by the public in distress. The persistence of lead shot in wetland environments means birds continue dying from poisoning even where use has been banned. Full transition to non-toxic shot is achievable and urgently needed.