I have often wondered what the numbers were behind the "lead" scare that has been taking place the last few years. Personally, I have always thought that the subject was blown a bit out of proportion as to the environmental damage it could cause and its danger to animals. Are these numbers in Webdude's article something to be alarmed about? Certainly, a "ton" of lead paints a very intimidating picture. Some math: A ton of lead is 100,000 1/3rd oz. jigs. Using their numbers for Mille Lacs (keep in mind this is over a 20 year period) that would be one jig per every 710 square yards in Mille Lacs. Granted, we tend to lose those jigs in concentrated areas, but it is still one 1/3rd oz. jig lost in every 710 sq./yds. of Mille Lacs every 20 years! Now does a ton seem like a lot? I would be more interested in a study that pointed to definative proof of the damage caused by that one jig every 20 years in 710 sq./yds. of Mille Lacs. Another thing to consider is the time span of 20 years. With bottom silting, how long is it till a jig lost is buried and in essence gone? Our lake bottoms are in a constant state of change. Interesting numbers in the study, but far from pointing to any environmental damage.
I realize that there have been documented cases of lead ingested by loons, but how detrimental is this to the loon population? We kill thousands of deer with vehicles each year, but it does not make a dent in their population numbers and no one wants us to quit driving. Are we attemping to legislate the end to the same kind of morality in the loon poulation? I don't know, but I would like to before we ban lead for fishing.
Thanks for the article Webdude, keep them coming! There are so many sources of info. out there that without telling each other there is no way to keep up on current topics. I don't have the time to track stuff like that down myself, appreciate those that share them with us.
Cool and very true. I just wonder how long it would take any of us to find a sinker in 710 square yards of my lawn? I would bet most would give up, I would. With the numbers of loons seemingly on the raise I don't know that this is any more than a scare to something. I have seen loons in groups of 20 and more. Now they are annoying in those numbers and cormorants could cause damage. Although I am not saying killing them is good, I agree that if the problem is as rare as it seems to be, do we need to make lead illegal and more expensive shot the only choice? I don't think so, at least not until we have more information on what's really happening and if it is having a recently huge down swing in loon populations. Remember loons are the state bird, but we have another some days.. just kidding.
Thanks Joel for the very thought out view. I agree..