This spring more than two million anglers will head for Minnesota's lakes and rivers in pursuit of their favorite pastime. Fishing licenses have been bought and boat registrations renewed. All that's left is to re-stock the tackle box. Our state bird, the common loon, is among the species of waterfowl most susceptible to the dangers of lead poisoning.
Loons pick up small pebbles from lake bottoms to aid in digesting their food.
A single lead sinker mixed in with the pebbles can be enough to kill the bird. Anglers urged to get the lead out of their tackle boxes This spring more than two million anglers will head for Minnesota's lakes and rivers in pursuit of their favorite pastime. Fishing licenses have been bought and boat registrations renewed. All that's left is to re-stock the tackle box. The DNR urges anglers to try nontoxic sinkers this year.