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Commentary: What does science say about population effects of lead in wildlife?

The author, Russ Mason, writes that with the arguable exception of condors, the available evidence shows nothing more than small impacts on bald eagles, golden eagles, with unsupported but reasonable inferences to other scavengers. (USFWS photo)

Concerns over the effects of spent lead ammunition prompted federal resource agencies in the United States and Canada to phase in a ban on lead shot shell ammo for waterfowl hunting starting in 1987. Now, the focus is shifting towards the effects of spent lead centerfire ammunition. Wildlife veterinarians, bird advocacy organizations, animal rights activists, and even some wildlife biologists assert that it’s “common knowledge” that lead is bad from a population perspective.
One might ask: What’s the evidence?

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