So one of the sites I follow on FB is called Wild Heart Ranch. They are here in Oklahoma and they rehab wild critters and release them back into the wild. The volume they handle is pretty amazing. And they're not tree huggers in the classical sense, but they do feel 'called' to do what they do. More power to 'em. Its one of the reasons I follow what they do, their commitment for little or no reward other than the completion of their work each time they release one. They're not anti-hunting people either. They did get featured on a NOVA episode about interspecies relationships here while back and they didn't come off looking like the typical "Okies After a Tornado" when one of us is on TV.

Reason I bring it up is they posted a story this morning about a bald eagle someone brought them that has lead poisoning. The owner said it was a very common illness among the raptors they had brought to them and that the mortality rate is 100% when they see it. She believes the most common point of lead pollution that affects wildlife is lead bullets in abandoned or lost game and from fishing tackle lost in waterways. I have to be honest that in my part of the country, its not something that is on anyone's radar. there's not much visibility to lead poisoning as a problem nor is there any real non-lead tackle thats visible on store shelves. A few google searches did make it clear though that in other states its a big problem and there are even talks of lead tackle bans in some states. There's definite links to loon population declines, for example in Minnesota.

I bring it up just to ask y'all's opinion on the issue. I admittedly don't know if there's science behind any of it. Are we being irresponsible by using lead ammo and lead fishing tackle? I guess that's the bottom line question.

Thought it might be a good topic for a day when the NOVAs are getting their vaginas frozen.

BKB