Episode 26: Unleaded

Golden eagles are one of the largest raptors in North America, but they are threatened by an unlikely poison: lead. Eagles ingest lead accidentally when they scavenge on animal remains left behind by hunters, which are often contaminated by lead bullet fragments. Luckily, there’s a simple solution: switching to lead-free bullets.

When hunters use lead ammunition, their bullets can shatter into hundreds of tiny pieces upon impact. These fragments are then left behind in gut piles that scavengers like golden eagles, California condors, and bald eagles feed on. Over time, the lead weakens the raptors’ bones and interrupts nerve function, causing them to lose coordination, become paralyzed, or eventually die.

That’s where Sporting Lead-Free comes in. Their mission is to build a grassroots movement that advocates for lead-free alternatives like copper bullets while embracing the conservation legacy of the hunting community.