locustella
Well-known member
The U.S. wild turkey population is on the decline: What’s behind the decline?
Roddy Scheer, March 17, 2024 | 11:21 am
Roddy Scheer, March 17, 2024 | 11:21 am
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From the news: the U.S. wild turkey numbers are decreasing (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter locustella
- Start date
Ignatius
Texpat
Well, with vultures (and eagles) it is lead exposure from hunters' ammo that is a growing problem. Both in Europe and the US.
EU
USA
Banning lead ammo seems to be more difficult than at first anticipated. Especially across the pond hunters see this appeal as yet another sneaky pinko-commie grab for their guns and therefore resist it at all costs - a typical knee-jerk reaction devoid of any mental activity from people pretending to love nature and sometimes even professing ecological motives for their slaughter.
There are more sources for this topic on the interweb ...
EU
USA
Banning lead ammo seems to be more difficult than at first anticipated. Especially across the pond hunters see this appeal as yet another sneaky pinko-commie grab for their guns and therefore resist it at all costs - a typical knee-jerk reaction devoid of any mental activity from people pretending to love nature and sometimes even professing ecological motives for their slaughter.
There are more sources for this topic on the interweb ...
sudsdetailing
Well-known member
Cost of living crisis may well have seen a significant increase in hunting?
dantheman
Bah humbug
They banned it in fishing weights decades ago in the UK - don't know about the US.
I was surprised on a quick google that lead shot is still used in UK, but see - New HSE consultation launched on lead ammunition . There are of course alternatives available, but lead is cheap and well-liked for other reasons ...
raymie
Well-known member
It's been banned in the US for a long time.
Elkhornsun
Well-known member
In California such a decline would be cause for celebration. The state wildlife service imported millions of turkeys and introduced them over a 10-year period throughout the state. As a "game" bird they are protected most of the year and very difficult to do anything about a flock in your yard that is destroying the vegetation.
www.scientificamerican.com
Turkeys scratch the ground for food much like a giant chicken and can decimate the vegetation. On a hillside this will result in slippage of the soil and it is very expensive to fix later with retaining walls and new plantings.
California's Wild Turkey Troubles
Some wildlife officials think the turkeys could cause serious damage to the state's ecosystems
Turkeys scratch the ground for food much like a giant chicken and can decimate the vegetation. On a hillside this will result in slippage of the soil and it is very expensive to fix later with retaining walls and new plantings.
Ignatius
Texpat
Of course the BASC are against any intelligent reform or alternatives. Here in Austria, and the whole EU apparently, lead shot may no longer be used in wetlands. This is the result of a proposal made by the ECHA in 2017 which in turn brought a new REACH (Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals), EU 2021/57, which became effective Feb. 22 2023.
What do you mean about lead being 'well-liked for other reasons'?
Sangahyando
Well-known member
Probably its ballistic properties.
