That's like finding 20 to 80 pellets in an area the size of a 2 metre x 2 metre sandbox. One heavily hunted lake in Manitoba has as many as two million pellets in every hectare of its bottom, the same as 800 pellets in a sandbox. About 260 tonnes of lead shot falls to the ground each year around clay-target shooting ranges in Canada. Depending on where the ranges are located, some of this shot falls into wetland areas where it can be swallowed by water birds. They may also use lead jigs, which are weighted fish hooks.
Fishing sinkers come in all shapes and sizes.
Michael Cooper Sometimes people accidentally drop loose fishing sinkers or jigs into the water. Sinkers and jigs may also be lost in the water if the hook or line gets tangled and the line breaks or is cut. Scientists estimate that about 500 tonnes of lead sinkers and jigs are lost in Canadian waters every year. Many species of birds can get lead poisoning because of the food they eat or the way they find it. Waterfowl and other water birds that dig in the bottom of lakes and ponds for their food are at the greatest risk.