Hunters blamed again?

[JLsteel]

http://bc.ctvnews.ca/eagles-are-suffering-and-dying-in-b-c-and-lead-shot-could-be-to-blame-1.3438449

[finaddict]

Maybe, but this one may have the legs to prove it. I don't doubt that there is still enough lead shot in the ground that is being accidentally digested by the waterfowl.

[RiverOtter]

At least a hunter would end an animals suffering, when death was imminent, not run video for social media. Sickening what some will do to gain attention.

[Mulehahn]

But should they not find lead shot in the gizzards if that is the case? I remember watching a documentary on swans dying in a pond along the border in Abbotsford. The gizzards were full of old lead shot. Highly doubt that all 12 eagles would not have any.

RiverOtter, that was my first thought as well. When he says the animals final 15 minutes are so hard to watch then don't. End it! If the animal has no chance of recovery euthanize it, don't let it suffer. If they are not allowed get someone who is!

[russm86]

I'm curious to know what this "device" is that they are using for testing the lead. I thought you had to do blood tests to get proper lead level readings. That is how it is done in humans, why would animals be any different?

[wideopenthrottle]

it is like when the cat dragged home a big mouse and was playing with it while it squeeled away..my wife was so facinated that when i said thats enough and grabbed a stick to kill it she actually said "dont be cruel...lets just watch what Millie(the cat) does"....i shook my head and quickly clubbed it to death and promptly reminded her what cruel actually means....the voyeurs would rather watch suffering and comment on how sad it is without realizing they have the power to end the suffering

[RiverOtter]

At this point in time, with all the agendas to end hunting, I'm gonna need to see hard evidence. Actual lead shot in the crop, gizzard or digestive tract would be a good start, with secondary confirmation from a biologist supplied by a hunting organization.

Elevated lead levels do NOT automatically mean lead shot/bullet ingestion. Period.

Eagles eat a lot of fish in certain areas and based on the concentration of affected birds in this case, that possibility deserves a hard look.

[JLsteel]

I was listening to a Steve Rinella podcast way back and Steve mentioned that he had a vegetable garden that he had the soil tested. Apparently, it had significant amounts of lead in it and was told it was mainly due to the leaded gasoline used back in the day. Unless there is hard evidence of lead shot in their gut, it could be a variety of factors that caused the lead poisoning.

[RiverOtter]

Another point...Lead shot has be banned for waterfowl hunting for a number of years and upland use is extremely spread out. Now, all of a sudden we have 12 cases in a concentrated area and automatically lead shot is the culprit?

Something smells here.

[finaddict]

I was listening to a Steve Rinella podcast way back and Steve mentioned that he had a vegetable garden that he had the soil tested. Apparently, it had significant amounts of lead in it and was told it was mainly due to the leaded gasoline used back in the day. Unless there is hard evidence of lead shot in their gut, it could be a variety of factors that caused the lead poisoning.Thanks Gents, I am pleased to read that there are other potential sources, and not just shot. I guess until someone actually tests all the feed sources for lead poisoning (waterfowl, fish, rodents, reptiles) , all their talk is just conjecture. It would be interesting to see if these other potential prey are suffering from lead build-up in tissue and from what sources (industrial effluents, residential pollution etc).

[brian]

Another point...Lead shot has be banned for waterfowl hunting for a number of years and upland use is extremely spread out. Now, all of a sudden we have 12 cases in a concentrated area and automatically lead shot is the culprit?

Something smells here.

I completely agree! I think it is irresponsible to suggest a suspected source without any solid proof. I am not saying lead shot is not to blame but there are plenty of other potential sources of lead contamination that should be ruled out as well. They should look to see if there are any industrial sources for lead contamination in the area as well as testing marine life to see if it is bio accumulating. At least they could perform autopsies to see if there is lead shot in their systems before saying lead shot is to blame. I know here on the Island Bald Eagle populations are very healthy. I've lost two my chickens to them this spring, which leads me to suspect it is a localized problem.



I'm curious to know what this "device" is that they are using for testing the lead. I thought you had to do blood tests to get proper lead level readings. That is how it is done in humans, why would animals be any different?
The device they bought is probably a thing that tests for lead levels in blood.

[Dutch]

Was really shocked when I seen this again ,regurgitated junk from the 70"s .There are many toxins still in use today and eagles are carrion eaters where do they hunt the most? Off the burns bog dump who is the main feeder and therefore prey of the eagles? herring gulls ,.also where is one of the larger composting yards located ?Delta across from the dump ,think if they want to find some answers they should be looking there and not bringing up lead shot that was banned 25 years ago.I used to hunt crows in the dump back in the 70"s (yes had written permission) and the gulls that I seen in various stages of death was quite staggering.Those eagles that are congregated around are not just enjoying the weather.

[scoutlt1]

Here's a thought....

Delta and Richmond are home to large composting facilities. Composting operations are taking in more and more municipal food waste (diverted from landfills). Yard waste, mostly due to contamination can, and often does, contain high levels of lead. When food and yard waste are combined, lead finds it way into food waste. Poor vector attraction reduction practices can easily cause high levels of lead in rats, seagulls, etc...

Few if any people glance at a dead or dying rat, but if it's a dead or dying eagle....different response.

Food waste attracts rats, seagulls, mice, crows etc... Eagles/raptors feast on them (especially during winter and cold springs when conventional food sources are scarce) and are becoming more prevelant at composting facilities because of the inclusion of food waste in the waste stream.

Composting is a wonderful thing when done right, and I'm not suggesting it shouldn't be done, or that it is the cause of this. Just throwing out some food for thought (pun intended).

Always easy to blame hunters, especially in a "news" article rife with "could be" and "may be"..... :neutral:


http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/hundreds-of-eagles-congregate-near-delta-b-c-composting-facility-1.3960676

https://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/2012/06/03/high-lead-content-ruins-boston-cherished-compost/6Pyyu6nNfeHksSlz34QwrJ/story.html

http://www.newmoa.org/events/docs/53_59/GoldsteinCompostNov2012.pdf

[Linksman313]

What another bunch of BS with no solid evidence to prove. Naw, couldn't be any of the toxic producing reasons already mentioned in this thread, has got to be the 0.001 ppm of lead shot left over from the 70's that killed all 12 Eagles. What a bunch of crap. I frequently (as in 50plus times per waterfowl season) hunted the inner dyke (not on Sundays though lmao) throughout my time in the LML and have seen the amount of dumping of household items and chemicals in the small streams and bogs that make up the area in question, none of that could have contributed, no way?? Maybe the golf course at Kings Links there went a little crazy on the mosquito control this year and contaminated things - no not possible. It must be the leftover from Grampa shooting ducks back in the day, give your head a shake. Can't wait for some solid proof here, until then count me disgusted!
Links

[Ride Red]

Here's a thought....

Delta and Richmond are home to large composting facilities. Composting operations are taking in more and more municipal food waste (diverted from landfills). Yard waste, mostly due to contamination can, and often does, contain high levels of lead. When food and yard waste are combined, lead finds it way into food waste. Poor vector attraction reduction practices can easily cause high levels of lead in rats, seagulls, etc...

Few if any people glance at a dead or dying rat, but if it's a dead or dying eagle....different response.

Food waste attracts rats, seagulls, mice, crows etc... Eagles/raptors feast on them (especially during winter and cold springs when conventional food sources are scarce) and are becoming more prevelant at composting facilities because of the inclusion of food waste in the waste stream.

Composting is a wonderful thing when done right, and I'm not suggesting it shouldn't be done, or that it is the cause of this. Just throwing out some food for thought (pun intended).

Always easy to blame hunters, especially in a "news" article rife with "could be" and "may be"..... :neutral:


http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/hundreds-of-eagles-congregate-near-delta-b-c-composting-facility-1.3960676

https://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/2012/06/03/high-lead-content-ruins-boston-cherished-compost/6Pyyu6nNfeHksSlz34QwrJ/story.html

http://www.newmoa.org/events/docs/53_59/GoldsteinCompostNov2012.pdf

You beat me to it. They've had a huge increase in eagle numbers at the composting site just up the highway from Bass Pro. I'd seriously consider this site a possible contamination area that these eagles may be ingesting from. To say it could be from lead shot which was banned a couple decades ago is a far reach to point a finger. But what else do you expect from the media these days.