The HSUS Calls for Nationwide Ban on Lead Shot after Endangered Condor Poisonings
June 5, 2008
http://www.hsus.org/press_and_publicati ... 60508.html
WASHINGTON - The Humane Society of the United States today urged a nationwide ban on lead-shot ammunition after the lead poisoning of seven critically endangered California condors. One of the seven birds has died, vivid evidence that this ammo keeps on killing long after it leaves the gun barrel.
"Like asbestos, lead shot is a lethal and cruel pollutant that has no place in our modern society," said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The HSUS. "Discharging countless tons of lead-shot ammunition and dispersing it in open space areas throughout the nation is a prescription for slow agonizing deaths for wildlife, particularly for scavengers such as condors who feed on animals killed by lead shot and are then poisoned themselves. It's time for policymakers to stand up to the extremist voices within the hunting lobby and demand that hunters use nontoxic shot."
The seven poisoned condors account for one-fifth of the entire Southern California population of these majestic creatures, who have been reintroduced into the wild at considerable expense and effort. California enacted a law to forbid the use of lead shot, and even lead bullets, in condor territory beginning in July 1 - too late for these birds.
Many hunters support the use of nontoxic alternative shot, and voluntary programs in some areas have resulted in significant reductions in lead shot usage. Lead shot has been banned in waterfowl hunting in the U.S. since 1991. But some stubborn shooters, including lobbyists for the National Rifle Association, advocate lead shot on the flimsy grounds that it is "traditional" and "affordable."
"Nontoxic shot is on the market and used by millions of hunters already. It demonstrates a callous disregard for wildlife to continue to put this poison into the environment when a superior alternative exists," added Pacelle.
As the condor death and poisonings show, affordability is an NRA smoke screen, and nothing more. Millions of taxpayer dollars have been spent on condor recovery efforts, and because of the needless harm to these birds, those tax dollars have been squandered as nothing more than campfire kindling for the fear-mongers of this radical organization.
Not just condors, but other scavengers feed from animal remains riddled with lead shot, passing this poison deeper and deeper into the wildlife food chain - and eventually into the human food chain as well. Several states have removed all donated game meat from the shelves of food banks because of lead contamination.
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The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization - backed by 10.5 million Americans, or one of every 30. For more than a half-century, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education, and hands-on programs. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty - On the web at humanesociety.org.
June 5, 2008
http://www.hsus.org/press_and_publicati ... 60508.html
WASHINGTON - The Humane Society of the United States today urged a nationwide ban on lead-shot ammunition after the lead poisoning of seven critically endangered California condors. One of the seven birds has died, vivid evidence that this ammo keeps on killing long after it leaves the gun barrel.
"Like asbestos, lead shot is a lethal and cruel pollutant that has no place in our modern society," said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The HSUS. "Discharging countless tons of lead-shot ammunition and dispersing it in open space areas throughout the nation is a prescription for slow agonizing deaths for wildlife, particularly for scavengers such as condors who feed on animals killed by lead shot and are then poisoned themselves. It's time for policymakers to stand up to the extremist voices within the hunting lobby and demand that hunters use nontoxic shot."
The seven poisoned condors account for one-fifth of the entire Southern California population of these majestic creatures, who have been reintroduced into the wild at considerable expense and effort. California enacted a law to forbid the use of lead shot, and even lead bullets, in condor territory beginning in July 1 - too late for these birds.
Many hunters support the use of nontoxic alternative shot, and voluntary programs in some areas have resulted in significant reductions in lead shot usage. Lead shot has been banned in waterfowl hunting in the U.S. since 1991. But some stubborn shooters, including lobbyists for the National Rifle Association, advocate lead shot on the flimsy grounds that it is "traditional" and "affordable."
"Nontoxic shot is on the market and used by millions of hunters already. It demonstrates a callous disregard for wildlife to continue to put this poison into the environment when a superior alternative exists," added Pacelle.
As the condor death and poisonings show, affordability is an NRA smoke screen, and nothing more. Millions of taxpayer dollars have been spent on condor recovery efforts, and because of the needless harm to these birds, those tax dollars have been squandered as nothing more than campfire kindling for the fear-mongers of this radical organization.
Not just condors, but other scavengers feed from animal remains riddled with lead shot, passing this poison deeper and deeper into the wildlife food chain - and eventually into the human food chain as well. Several states have removed all donated game meat from the shelves of food banks because of lead contamination.
-30-
The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization - backed by 10.5 million Americans, or one of every 30. For more than a half-century, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education, and hands-on programs. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty - On the web at humanesociety.org.
