Three more California Condors, among the most endangered birds in the world, have died from lead poisoning from ammunition, while three others were treated for lead poisoning, according to The Peregrine Fund’s Condor Recovery Program in Arizona. This brings the total number of condors killed by lead in the last 11 years to 19.
“This tragic news comes as little surprise for those of us engaged in the lead ammunition issue. We expect more condor, eagle, and other bird deaths as long as lead remains an ingredient in bullets and shot used for hunting,” said George Fenwick, President of American Bird Conservancy. You can read the whole sad story in this release from the American Bird Conservancy
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The really sad part is that even if ammo producers switched to another type of ammunition and lead bullets were immediately taken of the shelves, it will take a long time for this threat to wane.
Lead test kits are useful products to take home. For the sake of our children’s health and wellness, we need to check if the surfaces in contact with at home are free of contaminants of lead.