Banning Lead Ammunition in National Parks

One of the great tragedies of lead ammunition is the widespread poisoning it causes to wildlife.

That is why PEER has teamed up with the American Bird Conservancy and the Union of Concerned Scientists to petition the National Park Service to implement a ban on lead ammunition and tackle in national parks.

Altogether, more than 130 park wildlife species are exposed to or killed by ingesting lead or prey contaminated with lead. Lead is a leading threat to birdlife, especially bald eagles, hawks, and other raptors, as well as other birds from loons to condors. In addition, lost lead fishing tackle leads to elevated lead levels in fish and amphibians.

There is no excuse for the National Park Service to stall this petition. Affordable alternatives to lead bullets and tackle exists and are widely used throughout the United States.

In September, the Fish and Wildlife Service announced a phase-out of lead ammunition and fishing tackle in 18 National Wildlife Refuges. Our job is to pressure the National Park Service to do the same. The time for excuses is over.

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