Last year, while hiking on our spread in Gasport, I encountered an incredibly sick, nearly immobilized raccoon likely affected by rabies and approaching death.
I unholstered my handgun and planned to dispatch the suffering creature. But, I had second thoughts and put the gun away.
I pondered a possible outcome that I didn’t want to happen had I gone through with it. Within a couple miles of where I was live two pairs of bald eagles. The magnificent birds are opportunistic feeders -- they fly around our community in search of their next meal that, most often, is carrion. My concern was that one of them would discover the dead raccoon, eat it, and ingest the bullet I was going to put into it.
A small piece of lead the size of a rice grain can poison a bald eagle. Once bits of lead are in the very acidic stomach of the bird, they are dissolved and absorbed into the bloodstream. Lead will give an eagle brain damage and harm its nervous system. It can suppress growth, harm fertility, and cause weakness, organ failure, and anemia.
When eagles are brought into rescue clinics, most are suffering from lead poisoning. The Raptor Center at the University of Minnesota treats 160 to 180 bald eagles a year and 90% percent test positive for lead and about 30% have levels high enough to be fatal. Closer to home, a wildlife pathologist with the New York State Departments of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) found that 14% of the eagles he investigated had died from lead poisoning.
It is believed that in the northeast United States the growth of the eagle population has been suppressed by more than 5% due to lead poisoning – a significant impact for an uncommon species that needs further population recovery.
And, that’s where the NYSDEC and its friends come in.
This year, the agency is continuing its multi-year cooperative study of how increased use of non-lead ammunition for deer hunting can improve the survival of eagles. Carcasses and entrails left after a successful hunt could have chunks of slugs or bullets in them, a legitimate concern considering more than 200,000 deer were taken by New York hunters last year and the statewide eagle population is around 500 breeding pairs.
To get deer hunters engaged in abandoning lead ammunition, the NYSDEC’s research partners – Hunters For Eagle Conservation -- are incentivizing the change. All hunters statewide are eligible for a rebate up to $60 for the purchase of non-lead ammunition for use during the 2024 deer hunting season. Last year, the effort was put on only a few wildlife management units. Now, the entire state is in the sights of this endeavor and it is expected that it will be in play for at least a couple more years.
If you are looking to stock up on non-lead ammo in advance of next week’s firearms opening day, do so now. The rebate comes after your hunt – successful or not. The rebate is good for one box of factory loaded non-lead ammunition or one box of lead-free bullets for reloading. To receive it, you need to visit https://huntersforeagleconservation.org/new-york/ and complete a survey, which is an invaluable part of the state’s study.
When applying for the funds you need to submit your contact information (including mailing address and email address), the name of the store where your box of lead-free ammunition was purchased, and a copy (photo or PDF) of your receipt for one box of the qualifying ammunition. It’s helpful to them if you circle the item on your receipt.
A list of certified non-lead ammunition can be found at wildlife.ca.gov/Hunting/Nonlead-Ammunition/Certified
Participation in this program is encouraged, even without the financial sweetener. Bald eagles suffered for far too long. In 1976, only one breeding pair of eagles lived in New York. They are on the rebound now and we need to keep that momentum going. The emblem of our nation deserves our best so they can be their best.
From the 08 November 2024 Greater Niagara Newspapers and Wellsville Sun
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