Possible Lead Sinker Ban in the State of WI

( Photo: An adult Bald Eagle dying of lead poisoning. )

I did a spot on channel 7 last night on the lead fishing tackle issue. Lead sinkers are banned by the European Union. Lead sinkers have been banned in Great Britain since 1987. Both the Canadian Wildlife Service and US Fish and Wildlife Service have bans on federal lands. Many states including New Hampshire, Maine, New York, Vermont, and Massachusetts have a ban as well. Am I the only one who feels a little embarrassed that we fall so far behind other countries in this aspect?

Change is always hard, but lead is a toxin and we have new alternatives. It seems to me, allowing our sportsmen and their families to continue to be exposed to a known toxin is wrong, even a liability, for our state since we know, 100% know and acknowledge, lead is toxic. It is a poison not only to birds but to humans. We hear much about the increased cost of lead alternative sinkers. Are they more expensive? Did you ever notice that specifics of how much more expensive are not discussed? I am a fisherman. I just bought 100 non-lead sinkers for a little over eight dollars ( $8.00). 100 lead sinkers are $6.00. One hundred sinkers lasts a long time. We are talking about $2.00 to save loons, Trumpeter Swans and Eagles. Like I said, I am not sure what the fray is about, other than change is hard. I don't understand, but I assure you my grandchildren are not going to be exposed to lead poisoning.

The Lead Analyzer we use at REGI was developed to do blood lead testing on children usually in the inner cities. Now, we use the same machine to test the blood of Bald Eagles, Trumpeter Swans and Loons as well as other wildlife. The analyzer is not needed as much for children since paint has been lead free since the mid 1970's in our country.

I am old enough to remember the arguments of paint manufacturers when a ban of lead in paint was being considered. Heated discussions ensued with claims ranging from a ban being "Un-American", to manufacturers would be forced out of business because the plants would need to be re-tooled for the production of lead free paint. There were claims banning lead in paint would be a financial disaster for the U.S. economy.

That was thirty ( 30 ) short years ago. Last winter a toy produced in China was found to have a tiny bit of lead in a single color on the toy. The toy was immediately taken from the shelves. Parents were up in arms over China trying to poison our children. The swing of the pendulum of popular opinion is obvious!

Lead poisoning causes brain damage, neurological problems, seizures and organ failure. We know this. Lead Poisoning is well studied. Literature is readily available. As for me and my family, there is no question what the right answer is.



( Photo: Lead sinkers and lead shot in the digestive system of a Trumpeter Swan.)

Sadly, sportsmen are being taken advantage of with impassioned words from the sport fishing community that promote half truths. As a fisherman myself I am angry my fellow fishermen are being taken advantage in such a way. I ask everyone to make up your own mind. Do your own research. Don't allow only the vested interests of some to create your opinion.

I know personally that fishing and hunting are expensive sports. If you cannot afford an extra $2.00 every few years for non-lead sinkers, then take advantage of our free lead sinker exchange at REGI. We can provide a lot of lead free sinkers for fishermen with the up to $2000 in CA EDTA it takes to treat a single Bald Eagle or Trumpeter Swan for lead poisoning. The last year we had 11 Bald Eagles, 14 Trumpeter Swans and 5 loons with lead poisoning. The is $60,000 in medication alone to help these protected species for the public to continue to enjoy and our economy to continue to benefit through tourism. We get no state or federal funding to help defray this cost. Please think about it and do the right thing.

Marge Gibson 2010

Updates on Trapping Injured Eagles and Flu Overtakes Us

We have been hit with a round of cold and flu here at REGI including me. I thought we had escaped the viruses this year and then ... a sniffle started, then one employee after another went down like a wave.

I do have some great news and updated photos of some of the Bald Eagles that had trapping injuries. I will share those and hope tomorrow I have a little more stamina to write.



( Photo: The Bald Eagle we call "Trapper" continues to improve. You can see his foot ( L.) is still swollen and not 100% functional, but he has not lost any toes and is using the leg well.)




( Photo: Bald Eagle from the Town of Texas in Marathon County that was caught in a coyote trap. )

We are cautiously optimistic about both of these eagles, but recovery will be an extended period, as not only the tissue has to mend, but also blood routes reestablished in the affected legs and feet, as well as nerves that were severely damaged.

Sadly, we lost the lead-poisoned Bald Eagle a few nights ago. Lead wins another one. I wish the folks who think lead is not a problem in our environment could spend a few days with us at REGI.


( Photo: Adult Bald Eagle dying of lead poisoning. )

I am off to get some sleep and try to get over this monster virus that lurks.

Wash your hands everyone::). Stay well!

Marge Gibson © 2010

Snow Bunting Released, Northern Cardinal Better, Barred Owl with Fractured Mandible, Volunteers

( Photo: Snow Bunting admitted in early January with a wing fracture was released today.)

It was a busy Saturday, but a beautiful day here in Northern Wisconsin.

We released our beautiful Snow Bunting that came in with a wing fracture in early January. The beautiful visitor from the north, healed well. He was flying so well in fact that he gave Lance and Abby a work out when they tried to catch him up from the flight aviary for his release. I said he was released but that is not quite accurate. While we were taking photos of him just before the release, he grew impatient and decided to exit from my hand before we were ready with the camera. Oh well, the important thing is he is a free bird tonight and will be making the trek back north soon for breeding.


( Photo: Northern Cardinal admitted on Jan 31st was well enough to go into a indoor aviary and out of intensive care.)

The Northern Cardinal in the photo above has done so well. He came in with a dog bite. He has a few serious days in intensive care but turned the corner yesterday and today was so active we tried him in the aviary. He is a little underweight so will remain in an indoor aviary until he gets his weight back to normal range and then will be released. Yea!!

We had some great help when volunteers Joe Krumrie and Abby Ruppert both students from UWSP came up for the day. Both are experienced with raptors and helped do some handling and made some jesses for the education birds. Thanks to both Joe and Abby for their time today. We got a lot of work done and it is always fun to talk to students that are interested in birds.


( Photo: Joe Krumrie works with our Gyrfalcon/Prairie Falcon while Abby Ruppert holds Aries our Broad winged Hawk.)



( Photo: Joe and Abby made jesses for our Screech Owl. Joe puts them on the little guy while Lance holds him.)


( Photo: The handsome Screech Owl has his first lesson in being glove trained.)

This is the same Screech Owl that was shot a few weeks ago. His wing injury was so severe that he will not be able to fly again. He continues to have vision problems. Since he will not be able to be wild again, his next option is be spend his life as an education bird. To find out if he agrees with that opportunity and doesn't mind captivity he has to do through a training phase first.
Not all birds are comfortable enough for captive placement, but he did real well today.


( Photo: This Barred Owl has a split lower mandible. )

We admitted an adult Barred Owl. This is an interesting case and one are working to repair. The owls lower mandible is split in two parts. As you an imagine she is unable to eat well on her own and has to be tube fed or fed small strips of meat. We will be trying a new technique to repair the beak tomorrow morning. I will let you know how it goes.


( Photo: Bald Eagle with Lead Poisoning is still fighting for her life. The green droppings are one of the indications of lead poisoning and is a sign of liver failure. )

The Bald Eagle with lead poisoning is continue to fight for her life and we are not going to give up on her as long as she is willing to keep trying. She is very sick, but such a beautiful and strong female eagle I remain hopeful until she is no longer.

Have a good tomorrow everyone.

Marge Gibson © 2010

New Patients Keep Coming In Including a lead Poisoned Bald Eagle, Northern Cardinal, House Finch and Barred Owls

( Photo: This adult female Bald Eagle came from the Tigerton area and has lead poisoning and serious additional complications as a result of the lead poisoning.)

I've been up much of the night with a very critical Bald Eagle suffering from lead poisoning. Forgive me if the blog lacks energy this morning.

In a week when we are releasing many recovered patients, we continue to admit others. Much of the weekend was spent doing exit physicals and driving to release the 3 Bald Eagles near Madison. However, 6 new patients came in as well on the weekend. As exciting as the releases are, we can never forget the new patients back at the clinic.



( Photo: This Northern Cardinal was in the wrong place at the wrong time when a dog grabbed him. Fortunately the dog's owner got the bird from the dog and brought it to REGI.)

House Finch conjunctivitis is a problem we see every winter. It is a contagious disease that affects a few species of small finches. Those that we see the most often are include Pine Siskins, Goldfinches and House Finches. The House Finch in the photos below is suffering with the condition. She has recovered, but we want to make sure she will not be contagious to other wild birds before she is released. We keep up with the most current data on the subject of wildlife disease. Some feel the disease continues to be contagious after it resolves in the original patient, others suggest it is not. We will evaluate the situation and the newest information before this bird is released to the wild. We never want to jeopardize the wild population.



( Photo: A House Finch with conjunctivitis was admitted from the Marshfield area. )


( Photo: The House Finch in a photo yesterday is looking much better and eating on her own. )


( Photo: This Barred Owl was hit by a car in Portage County.)

Barred Owls are some of the most beautiful of the owl family. With their large, deep brown eyes and gentle demeanor they are "easy patients". Sometimes it is nice, especially on more challenging days, to have an "easy patient" in the mix. I found myself smiling while caring for this Barred Owl last night even with the stress of the eagle overwhelming the night.


( Photo: Tube feeding the one of two Barred owls that came in, both hit by cars.)

There is so much to catch up on. I will do the next chapter on the eagle release soon I promise.

Have a peaceful day everyone.

Marge Gibson © 2010

Eagles Released at Lower Wisconsin River Site (Chapter #1 of Three)

Male adult Bald Eagle when he was rescued in August of 2009. He was suffering from lead poisoning and a fractured wing when found in a swamp and deep woods. The eagle never would have survived had it not been for a concerned citizen, Ron Drayler. Ron found the eagle while surveying some land. He then raced to the closest phone to call REGI for help. The eagle's rescue photos are below photos of his joyful release.)



( Photo: A nice crowd gathered near Sauk City, WI, to celebrate the release of three Bald Eagles, including this adult Bald Eagle found injured in August near Wausau.)


( Photo: The Bald Eagle was able to give a great group of senior citizens from The Pines Assisted Living an up-close and personal view of his magnificence minutes before his release. - Since the residents were not able to brave the cold temperatures, we went to them in the bus. Photo by: Arlene Sykora)



( Photo: One last view of the adult Bald Eagle seconds before he opened his wings under his own power and began a new phase of his life.)



(Photo: Free again, this adult male Bald Eagle takes his first wing beats in the wild since he was rescued near Wausau, WI in August 2009. Photo by: Bill Wright)



(Photo: The day in August when I was able to capture the injured and sick Bald Eagle from a swamp and wooded area near Wausau, WI. A very excited Ron Drayler signals REGI interns that we captured the eagle. It took a few hours of wading the swamp, but success that day assured this eagle would live to fly again.)


( Photo: Ron Drayler looking very pleased we were able to rescue the Bald Eagle he found dying in a wooded/swamp area. I just look very tired after tromping the swamp and swatting mosquitoes for over an hour to rescue the eagle.)

It takes so many people to make a success like this possible. We can rehabilitate Bald Eagles, but without people to find them and alert us to their situation, they would die without have a second chance at life. Ron made a difference for this eagle, but so can each one who reads this blog. You never know when you can become a hero to wildlife. Notice that this Bald Eagle suffered from Lead poisoning as so many do. Lead Poisoning is fatal without exception unless the bird is treated with chelating agents. Lead poisoning is something that every person can do something about. Thanks, Ron, for your part in this story.

Ron shared that his son will soon be leaving for deployment to Iraq. We join the family in their pride for their son's duty to our country.

Another Chapter, another story and release is coming up tomorrow.

Have a wonderful day everyone.

Marge Gibson © 2010

Lead Poisoning Solution Possible! Please Help!

(photo: The Bald Eagle is too often the victim of lead poisoning as it preys upon game which has been shot with lead.)

If you have been following our blogs you may realize the huge impact lead shot and lead sinkers are having on birds. We all know about the dangers of lead in humans, that is why it has been virtually eliminated from our lives. Lead has equally dangerous effects on birds and wildlife. Many of our patients come in poisoned with lead and in desperate need on chelation treatments to cleanse it from their bodies. A great article to read to learn more about why and how this happens is Get the Lead Out.

It is easy to feel helpless about what is happening in the world at large. We all know that we need to make personal changes and stop using lead in our hunting and fishing practices ourselves. Here at REGI we just got wind of something more that we can do and you can as well!

The US Department of Interior and the USEPA have started discussions on creating rules to ban the use of lead tackle and shot. I urge you to join our letter writing campaign and urge officials to make our environment safe for our feathered friends. We have heard that hunting and fishing lobbies have scheduled a meeting with Ken Salazar on January 26th to discuss their opposition to a ban on lead hunting and fishing products, so time is of the essence. It is important that you write a letter in support of a ban on lead IMMEDIATELY! It is best if these letters are not form letters but personalized letters. National Park Service is the agency that is closest to taking action, so letters sent to Mr. Salazar should focus on NPS actions to limit the use of Pb in national park lands. We recommend that letters to the president ask for attention and action by the EPA, since this is the agency that regulates the introduction of toxics into the environment. It's time for ALL conservationists (whether our interests are consumptive or non-consumptive) to step up to the plate and work towards the elimination of a toxic material into the environment.

You may find these talking points useful:
Lead in almost every other aspect of our life has been removed from paint to fuel for our automobiles. The use in sports such as hunting and fishing is a last hold out even though solid scientific studies show the effect on human health as well as wildlife.

• There is a lot of good scientific evidence that shows the significant acute and chronic effects of lead on humans, domestic animals and wildlife.
• There are lots of NON-lead options for alternatives to lead hunting and fishing equipment and they are not prohibitively expensive.
• Hunters and anglers have always been thought of as active conservationists and there is an important role for them in making this change -- to protect health, to protect the environment and to protect the resources that we all cherish.

Please encourage your friends, family members and co-workers to join you in supporting measures which will help us eliminate lead for the safety of birds as well as ourselves.

Please write a letter to your local representatives as well as our president and the head of the department of interior.

Barack Obama, President
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500

Ken Salazar, Secretary
Department of the Interior
1849 C Street, N.W.
Washington DC 20240

Thank You!
Molly

Loon Heads South, Bald Eagle Update

( Photo: REGI staff says goodbye to the Duck Lake Common loon as he heads south. Good bye Duckie. We hope you are able to come back to Duck Lake next year. Your friends at Duck Lake will be waiting for you. )

What a fine morning it is. The weather looks good and our Duck Lake loon will be on his way south in a few minutes. We are now packing up his food, and other essentials for the trip and he will be on his way. Hilger Baits is bagging some large sucker minnows for him that will stay alive for 24 hrs. He will have them for supper this evening in the tub of some motel:) and then in the morning again before his trip continues to the Gulf of Mexico.


( Photo: "Duckie" in his travel container, leaving town.)

( Video: The Duck Lake Common Loon "Duckie" gets breakfast before he leaves headed south.)


The Bald Eagle from the Town of Hewitt has a rough day yesterday, but as of last night is beginning to show improvement. We have learned he may have had another toxin in the mix of things as well. He may have eaten mice or squirrels that were poisoned with antifreeze and then thrown outside. People often do not realize that whatever eats those cast off dead critters also gets poisoned by the same thing that killed the mouse or rat. It is a complicated domino effect and secondary poisoning. The eagle is still under treatment for Lead poisoning as well as the fractured leg and toes from the leg hold trap. He has had the dictionary description of a " REALLY bad week."

( Photo: Hewitt Bald Eagle is improving after a rough day yesterday.)
The week continues to be busy with colder weather coming in. It was -25 degrees F. wind chill last night. B urr..

We will update you when we hear about Duckie and his odyssey south.
Marge Gibson 2009

Double Whammy Bald Eagle Admitted with Leg Hold Trapped Injury and Lead Poisoning, Northern Oriole, Snow Bunting and Canada Goose Admitted

( Photo: The Bald Eagle when he was rescued just before dark last night in the Town of Hewitt, Marathon County. He is shown with myself and Don Wolfe. Don found the bird and notified us of his situation.)

What a busy day it was yesterday. We admitted four patients.

Early in the day a Northern Oriole,and a Snow Bunting were admitted from Central Wisconsin. The beautiful male Northern Oriole, a male was suppose to have migrated long ago to a warmer climate. He has a wing injury and was not able to leave when the time was right. He will be with us through the winter enjoying lots of waxworms ( Thanks, Jada Baits) and mealworms ( thanks, John Jacobs) as well as frozen berries from the market. He dove into the live worms when he arrived. This morning he had strawberry juice running down his mouth when I checked him. He adjusted to captivity as in a warm aviary in about 2 minutes.

The Snow Bunting has a recent wing fracture. His prognosis is good for a full recovery. Snow Buntings are charming "snow flakes" of the bird world. They nest on the Arctic tundra and migrate to Wisconsin for the winter. They are in their element in the cold. They nestle in snow drifts to keep warm. It is amusing to me that this lovely little bird finds Wisconsin and below zero F. temperatures comfortable.


( Photo: Lance holds the Canada Goose for his exam. )

Later in the afternoon some kind folks caught up a Canada Goose that was standing near a road. Lakes are frozen in our area. There was no place for the goose to go. He has a wing fracture and lead poisoning so flying was not an option. We began treatment for lead poisoning this morning. While the Canada Goose is not a rare species, being injured, lead poisoned and cold is never a good thing.


( Photo: REGI staffer, Lance Holm holds the Bald Eagle back at the REGI clinic as he was admitted.)
Late afternoon we got a call from Don Wolfe and his wife Gail from the Town of Hewitt. They found an adult Bald Eagle in the field near their home that was weak and unable to fly or move well. It was nearly 4 P.M. when the call came in and the site was about 30 minutes away from REGI. Lance and I jumped in the van and were on our way in a matter of minutes hoping to get to the site before dark. We arrived and in the last minutes before dark with the help of Don Wolfe were able to capture the injured Bald Eagle. The poor eagle was so weak, capture didn't require much effort. (Although Lance did a terrific face first flop in the snow when he was running to corral the eagle.)

We did blood work as soon as the eagle was admitted. We have our own blood analyser at REGI. We are able to get results of most the blood work within minutes and begin treatment very quickly. Immediate treatment particularly in the case of lead poisoning is very important and has been a lifesaver to many patients.

It turns out the Bald Eagle has lead poisoning as well as a broken leg and injuries to both feet from the leg hold trap. The eagle likely picked up lead poisoning after he was injured in the trap, as he fed on deer "gut piles" left in the woods after hunting season. The leavings from a deer look like good food to a bird particularly since with a broken leg was unable to hunt for himself. He could not have known they are filled with lead from the use of lead ammunition. Most hunters are unaware of the danger awaiting bald eagles and other wildlife in "gut piles" left in the woods.



( Photo: Bald Eagle with leg fracture and lead poisoning after his first shot of Ca EDTA to chelate the lead from his blood. )

We continue to prepare the Common Loon, Duckie for his trip to the Gulf of Mexico. He is eating voraciously ( thanks Hilger Baits) and is getting stronger by the minute.

Have a good day everyone.
Marge Gibson © 2009

Lead Poisoned Bald Eagle Update

We start with some sad new tonight. Our lead-poisoned Bald Eagle lost her fight for life early this morning. Further testing will be done to determine if aspergillosis had developed before she was admitted on Sunday.
It is hard to lose such a beautiful bird. It is doubly hard to lose her to something that is totally human-caused and preventable.

We want to thank everyone who was involved in getting help for the eagle and those
who have called and emailed hoping for her recovery.

More news tomorrow.
Marge Gibson

Lead Poisoned Bald Eagle Update, Peregrine has Surgery

( Photo: Three year old Bald Eagle admitted last night can now stand, but holding her head up is hard. She is still in very critical condition.)

I have a few quick notes tonight to update our blog followers on the condition of the Bald Eagle admitted yesterday with lead poisoning.

The eagle has improved. She is no longer convulsing. That is a huge relief. Her blood lead level is still off the chart. It is nearly midnight as I write this. I left her a few minutes ago. I did a final tube feeding, gave her medications and tucked her in for the night. One concern I have is she is so weak and remains disoriented. She does not seem to have the strong "will" I am used to seeing in Bald Eagle patients. I hope she is just tired and aspergillosis has not already taken a toll on her body. Time will tell if that is the case. She weighs only 6 lbs 1 oz. A female Bald Eagle should weight between 11 and 14 lbs in our region. Starvation is part of lead poisoning. The birds are unable to eat as their digestive system shuts down.

( Photo: The Bald Eagle is still very weak. She sleeps most of the time and chooses to sleep on over a heating pad. The heat supports her natural body temperature which is compromised in such a critically ill bird. )


( Photo: This photo was taken about 10 minutes ago. She is resting for the night. The convulsions ceased as of early this morning. Now we just hope all goes well thought the night.)

( Photo:Katie holds the Peregrine Falcon as he wakes from anesthesia. Dr Powani did a great job as always.

A young Peregrine Falcon had surgery today on his eyelid. He came out of anesthesia well and is happily eating a gopher tonight. More on him tomorrow.

Off to bed now. Keep our beautiful eagle in your thoughts tonight.

Marge Gibson ©2009

Lead Poisoned Bald Eagle Admitted from Bancroft, WI

( Photo: This three year old female Bald Eagle was admitted late this afternoon from the Bancroft, WI. area. Sadly, she has an "off the charts" high blood lead level. She continues to suffer convulsions from the neurological affects of the lead on her brain.)

A group of deer hunters went from hunting deer to saving a Bald Eagle in a matter of a few short hours. They are our first REGI heroes of the day.

It was mid-morning when a call came in from Kendra Sawyer. Kendra was a REGI Intern in the summer of 2008. She was home recovering from a bout of the flu when her boyfriend called for help. He was deer hunting and came across an immature Bald Eagle lying in the woods. He knew the bird was alive only when she lifted her head slightly. We have transporters, but no volunteers in the Bancroft area capable of catching up even a very sick eagle. Additionally, walking the woods during deer hunting season is not safe unless dressed in regulation orange clothing.
I gave Kendra the bad news. We could help the bird, but were unable to make the 2.5 hour drive each way to search for it and get it out of the woods.



( Photo: The Bald Eagle is give oral fluids and nutrition through a tube to the crop. Weekend staffer, Aprill Jaeger holds the bird as I feed her. )

I knew the only chance this very sick bird had would be if Kendra's boyfriend Jake, captured it and brought it out of the woods. I hesitated to suggest the possibility particularly since the deer hunt has not been good this year. I knew this last day would be important to the hunting party. Jake rose to the occasion. Using only his sleeping bag to restrain the eagle, he carried her to flu hobbled Kendra's waiting car. ( Kendra is our second Hero of the day.)

It is amazing to me how things come together in these cases. Kendra was not feeling well enough to be out of bed let alone drive the eagle to Antigo. We enlisted longtime REGI volunteer transporters, David and Judy Marshall, of nearby Wisconsin Rapids, WI to transport the eagle to REGI in Antigo. ( Dave and Judy are the third and fourth Heroes of the day.)



( Photo: The young Bald Eagle is given a shot of Calcium Versenate to begin the process of chelating the lead from her blood. In the photo she is beginning to curl inward as a seizure overtakes her. A long road is ahead of the bird and the REGI team as we fight for her life.)

It will be a long night tonight. I will be with her most of the night. We quite literally have to hold large birds such as Bald Eagles so they do not break their wings during the convulsions. The beautiful bird has many strikes against her. As I write this she has had two injections of CA EDTA. I hope the chelation therapy begins to work soon to ease her suffering.

I have included several links below for your interest in how wildlife and people are exposed to lead during and after hunting season. Lead is a toxin. We as a species are well aware of that. Lead has been removed from all other aspects of our life. Last year there was a huge outcry when a bit of lead showed up in the certain colors of paint used in childrens toys that come from China. For some reason however, lead ammunition is still used in most states in the U.S. for hunting, and lead sinkers and jigs for fishing. We and our children eat the meat and wildlife is put at great risk as well. Thanks to Scott Diehl, for providing the sites.

Tis the season as they say. For us and for wildlife in the country it is "Lead poisoning season". This is the first of the lead poisonings this fall but it will not be the last. Keep us in your thoughts tonight.
Marge

Lead in game shot with lead ammo
Lead and the Environment
Lead fragments in venison
POTENTIAL FOR INGESTION EXPOSURE TO LEAD FRAGMENTS IN VENISON IN WISCONSIN