Swinging the Lead

Pheasant shooting is big business (with the act of shooting seeming to be a greater attraction to its participants, than any generated food items). A recent study examined 180 pheasant carcasses, obtained from game dealers, butchers and supermarkets across England and Scotland (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-56158777). Only one bird was found not to contain toxic lead shot. This comes a full year after 5 shooting organisations signed up to a 5 year transition, to using non-toxic gun ammunition. It's also after the uppercrust supermarket, Waitrose, banned lead shot meat from 2020 (I wonder, if the outlier bird came from there). There are alternatives to using lead shot. Ceramic or steel pellets can be used. There are even companies, like BioAmmo, selling cartridges (with a choice of lead or steel pellets) with fully biodegradable cases and wads. Although the presence of lead pellets is presented as a human health consideration, their impact on wildlife is more serious. It has been known, since the 1960s, that many ducks and other waterbirds that are found dead, have been poisoned by ingesting lead pellets whilst feeding. If they must shoot birds, the aficionados should be compelled to stop using lead shot. There's not much point in having 'green', biodegradable cartridges if you are spraying toxic lead into the environment!