Learn More | Hunters for Eagle Conservation

Threats

There are many threats to bald and golden eagles on the landscape and recent management efforts are focused on reducing human causes of death in these species (1,2,3). Lead poisoning is a leading cause of death in eagles and studies have shown that lead concentrations spike in the blood and tissue of eagles during and directly following hunting seasons (3,4). In cases where lead exposure does not lead to death in eagles, it can cause significant impairment resulting in the inability to fly and forage for food. Furthermore, recent research shows that lead poisoning is stunting population growth of bald and golden eagles at a nationwide scale (3,5).

This video shows an example of bald and golden eagles scavenging on hunter harvested elk in Montana.

The Effort

Hunters are eligible for 1 box of factory loaded lead-free ammo or 1 box of lead-free bullets.

Outcome

North American hunters have been major partners in wildlife conservation programs. This effort is unique in that hunters have the ability to help sustain and hopefully increase populations of non-hunted species.

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Literature Cited

1: Russell, R. E., & Franson, J. C. (2014). Causes of mortality in eagles submitted to the National Wildlife Health Center 1975–2013. Wildlife Society Bulletin, 38(4), 697-704.

2: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. (2016). Bald and Golden Eagles: Population demographics and estimation of sustainable take in the United States, 2016 update. Division of Migratory Bird Management, Washington D.C., USA.

3: Slabe, V. A., et al. (2022). Demographic implications of lead poisoning for eagles across North America. Science, 375(6582), pp.779-782.

4: Kelly, T. R., & Johnson, C. K. (2011). Lead exposure in free-flying turkey vultures is associated with big game hunting in California. PLoS One, 6(4), e15350.

5: Hanley, B. J., Them, C. E., Hynes, K. P., Connelly, P. J., Bunting, E. M., Schuler, K. L. (2023). Population impact to bald eagles by ingested lead in New York State, 1990–2018. Wildlife Society Bulletin, e1444.

6: Kelly, T. R., Bloom, P. H., Torres, S. G., Hernandez, Y. Z., Poppenga, R. H., Boyce, W. M., & Johnson, C. K. (2011). Impact of the California lead ammunition ban on reducing lead exposure in golden eagles and turkey vultures. PLoS One, 6(4), e17656.

7: Cochrane, J. F., Lonsdorf, E., Allison, T. D., & Sanders-Reed, C. A. (2015). Modeling with uncertain science: estimating mitigation credits from abating lead poisoning in Golden Eagles. Ecological Applications, 25(6), 1518-1533.

Hunters for Eagle Conservation is a program of Conservation Science Global, Inc., a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, founded in 2016 to advance conservation and management of our natural resources through science and education.