New Lead-Free Programs at Wildlife Refuges Prioritize Wildlife Health

WASHINGTON, D.C. - An innovative new program established by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will reduce unintended impacts to wildlife by encouraging hunters to use non-lead ammunition at seven wildlife refuges across the country. Lead ammunition harms eagles, hawks and many other wildlife species when they ingest lead bullet fragments and pellets as they scavenge for food.

"We applaud the Fish and Wildlife Service for working with the hunting community to incentivize the use of non-lead ammunition to reduce unintended harms to wildlife. The shooting sports industry offers a wide selection of non-lead ammunition that is highly effective and affordable," said Mike Leahy, senior director of wildlife, hunting, and fishing policy at the National Wildlife Federation. "We hope the service will expand this program and hunter and angler education to protect the health of wildlife for generations to come."

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has implemented a rebate program for hunters who voluntarily use lead-free ammunition at seven wildlife refuges. Those refuges are:

Patoka River NWR in Indiana - Deer hunting
Blackwater NWR in Maryland - Deer hunting
Wallkill River NWR in New Jersey - Hunting for all species
Pocosin Lakes NWR in North Carolina - Deer hunting
William L. Finley NWR in Oregon - Elk hunting
Canaan Valley NWR in West Virginia - Hunting for all species
Trempealeau NWR in Wisconsin - Deer hunting

The National Wildlife Federation has made voluntary use of lead-free ammunition and fishing tackle a high priority with its Lead-Free Landscapes initiative.