Author: Patuxent Wildlife Research Center

Publisher:

Published: 1974

Total Pages: 36

ISBN-13:

Poisoning of North American waterfowl resulting from the ingestion of lead shot by ducks, geese, and swans causes an estimated annual mortality of 2% to 3% of the population. To alleviate this problem the search for a suitable substitute for lead has been underway since the early 1950's. Proposed substitutes for lead shot were evaluated in a series of acut toxicity tests with pen-reared mallards. Most candidate materials were as toxic to ducks as commercial lead shot. Coating or alloying lead with other materials only delayed mortality among dosed ducks.