BY NICOLE PAQUETTE
Rhode Island has been a pioneer in protecting its residents from the threat of lead in paint and other household products. In fact, because of legislation passed in 2004, the state has implemented a robust mitigation program that continues to reduce the number of children exposed annually. However, there are no existing protections to get the lead out of our lands and away from wildlife.
Lead ammunition remains one of the greatest sources of lead knowingly put into the environment. Thankfully, legislation has been introduced by Rep. Arthur Handy and Sen. Joshua Miller (H-7838/S-2628) that will phase out the use of toxic lead ammunition for the taking of wildlife.
More than 500 scientific papers have cited the many dangers to wildlife caused by lead exposure. Animals can fall victim to lead poisoning by foraging lead shot from the ground, consuming contaminated wounded or dead prey, or scavenging gut piles left behind by hunters. It only takes a small amount to cause immense suffering and death in wild animals. Millions of animals from more than 130 species are exposed to this fate every year.
The federal government banned the use of lead ammunition for hunting waterfowl in 1991, and 30 states have increased restrictions beyond the 1991 federal waterfowl regulation. Most recently, California enacted legislation that will gradually phase out lead ammunition for hunting statewide. The National Park Service and U.S. Army have also taken steps to eliminate its use.
Hunters have adjusted to the switch and many agree that non-lead ammunition often outperforms lead ammunition. With the increase in demand, non-lead ammunition is readily available and reasonably priced compared with traditional ammunition. Most importantly, non-lead ammunition doesn’t continue to kill for months or years after it leaves the barrel.
Lead ammunition used for hunting is a significant source of lead exposure in humans who ingest wild game. It shatters upon impact into tiny fragments that are nearly impossible to completely remove from the animal. These lead fragments can spread far into the animal and, in turn, are easily ingested by humans.
A recent poll found that Rhode Islanders support a phase-out of lead ammunition for hunting by more than a two-to-one margin.
Hunters’ continued use of lead slugs and shot puts both wildlife and humans at risk of lead poisoning. H-7838/S-2628 is the sensible, conservation-focused, animal-welfare-oriented step to ending lead poisoning from ammunition in the Ocean State.
Giving up lead ammunition is a small sacrifice in return for protecting wildlife, our environment and ourselves.
Nicole Paquette is vice president of wildlife protection for the Humane Society of the United States.