The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1919-08-30
INVESTIGATIONS SHOW DUCKS
DIE OF EATING SHOT IN MUD

Wild ducks and other waterfowl
sometimes die from lead poisoning,
resulting from swallowing stray shot
which they pick out of the mud about
shooting gorunds. Many ducks that
become sick from lead poisoning fl
nally recover, but it is probable that
the effect is permantly injurious, not
only to the individual, but to the
species. 1t has been ascertained by
experiment that lead greatly impairs
the virility of male domestic fowls.
Females mated with them lay many
infertile eggs, while in many Of the
eggs that are fortified the emproyo
dies in the shell or the chick energies
weak and unable to withstand the
hardships Of early life What effect
lead poisoning has on feicele wild
fowl has not been dehn,t ely ascer-
tanned; but, as the fact is well known
that lead produces abortion in female
mammals, there is possibility that
il exerts a bad effect on female wa
terfowl during the breeding season.
Thus the supply of water fowl is
likely to be decreased by lead poison
ing, not only by the number of birds
that die directly from it, but indi-
rectly by impairment of reproduction.
These facts are set forth by the
United States Department of Agri-
culture in Bulletin 1893, LEAD PoiE
soning i'm Waterfowl" about to be
published as a contribution from the
Bereau of Biological Survey. Reports
Of waterfowl apparently sick from
lead poisoning have been coming in
for several years. The Biological
Survey Undertook an investigation at
various shooting grounds to deter
mine b6w common the taking of shot
by-S@ater fowl is, and a series Of ex-
c4eriments to ascertain the effect of
shot swallowed. 1t was found that at
places where much shooting is regu-
larly done, from blinds, shot at the
bottom of the shollow water are so
numerous that one or more was found
in every sieveful of mud or silt, and
that they are swallowed by water
fowl whenever found, as a result of
their swallowing small, hard objects
to supply grit for the gizzard.
The experiments have shown that
shot swallawed are gradually ground
away in the gizzard and pass into the
intestines, producing poisoning that
results in progressive paralysis and
usually death. Experiments with wild
woterfowl captured when young and
reared in captivity-to obviate the
possibility of their having taken lead
at the beginning Of the experiment:
have shown that six pellets of No
6 shot constitute an amount of lead
that is always fatal. Two or three
shot were sufficient to cause death
in several instances. In one expert
ment, wo mallards were given one
No. 8 shot each. One of them died in
nine days and the other was able t.
throw off the poison.
The list of species known to hav,
= been poisoned by eating SHIT consist.
4 mallard, pintail, and canvas-bacl
nucks, tie whistling swan, and thu
marbled godwit, but many other spe
sies, particultrly of ducks ind geese
are undoubtedly affected by it, &C
cording to the bulletin.
Unfortunately, nothing can be don,
at this time to protect waterfowl from
lead poisoning except to call atten
ton to the malady, and to max,
known its cause and symptoms. Tn,
department, however, desires stats
tics on the numbers and species o.
birds affected and asks that sports
nen and others to report to the Blu
reau Of Biological Survey all case.
that come to their attention.