No matter what species you are, ingesting lead can be fatal. The Peregrine Fund began studying the dangers of lead-based ammunition after the endangered California condors became sick or died from lead poisoning. Their research showed that the large scavengers were poisoned after feeding on carcasses and gut piles from game killed by hunters.

What about humans who eat game killed by lead bullets? A Peregrine Fund study sampled 30 white-tailed deer killed under normal hunting conditions in northern Wyoming with standard lead-core, copper-jacketed bullets fired from a high-powered rifle. X-Rays of all 30 deer showed widespread dispersal of lead fragments in the carcasses, ranging in size from smaller than a grain of salt to the size of a sesame seed.

Even after the meat was processed for standard preparation of ground meat and boneless steaks, there were still lead fragments in the packaged meat!

“Our results suggest that people may frequently ingest metallic lead when they consume deer killed with lead-based bullets and processed by normal procedures,” said Rick Watson, vice president of The Peregrine Fund. “We have known for years that lead residues from bullets poison birds of prey and other scavengers…now it appears that this dangerous contaminant exists in food that people eat as well.”

In 2007, 80 percent of hunters voluntarily switched to non-lead ammunition in condor country or removed deer gut piles after learning about the effects of lead on condors. Condor deaths dropped from four in 2006 to none in 2007.

“We believe that copper bullets will become the ammunition of choice for hunters to benefit themselves, their families, and wildlife,” Watson added.

Thanks to the California condors, the human food supply of venison will be much safer.

For the full press release, please click here.

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