News from the Loon Preservation Committee

Volume 81 |March 5, 2019

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Greetings!

I have some great news to share with you! The lead tackle buyback pilot program, which LPC and NH Fish and Game conducted during the summer of 2018, was a huge success! We collected 4,786 individual pieces of lead fishing tackle that weighed a combined total of nearly 29 pounds ! Every single one of these pieces of tackle had the potential to kill a loon if it had remained in circulation.

For those unfamiliar with our lead tackle buyback program, it allowed anglers to exchange one ounce or more of illegal lead fishing tackle (lead sinkers and jigs weighing one ounce or less) for a $10 voucher at two participating tackle stores. We had two major goals. First, we wanted to spread the word about the dangers of lead fishing tackle and remind anglers that it is illegal to use. Second, we wanted to provide a financial incentive for anglers to switch from using illegal lead tackle to using non-lead, loon safe tackle. Given the high level of success we achieved with just two participating retailers, we can't wait to see how much tackle we collect this coming summer, when we will have 10 additional stores participating in the program!

Here I am inventorying the lead tackle we collected during the program.

Why is it important to stop the use of lead fishing tackle in our lakes? Ingestion of lead fishing tackle weighing one ounce or less is the leading known cause of mortality for adult loons within New Hampshire. The sale and freshwater use of this tackle was banned in New Hampshire in 2013, with the law effective as of June 2016. Although it is no longer possible to purchase lead tackle in the illegal size range in New Hampshire, previously purchased illegal fishing tackle persists in old tackle boxes throughout the state and remains in use. Many people may not even realize that the tackle they are using is now illegal and poses threats to wildlife.

We rescued this male loon from Lake Winnipesaukee in May 2018 after it was observed tangled in fishing line. Unfortunately, the fishing line had an attached lead fishing sinker that the loon had ingested, and the loon died from lead poisoning shortly after this photo was taken.

This is the x-ray of the loon pictured above, taken after the loon passed away. The large fishing sinker pictured here gave the loon lead poisoning, resulting in its death. Note: the hook visible in the x-ray played no role in this loon's death. X-ray courtesy of Avian Haven.

The expansion of our lead tackle buyback program is coming at a critical time. Although the sale and freshwater use of lead fishing sinkers and jigs weighing one ounce or less were banned in June of 2016, we have not yet seen a reduction in the number of loon deaths from lead poisoning. In 2017, 8 adult loons were documented to have died from lead poisoning as a result of ingesting lead fishing tackle. In 2018, at least 6 adult loons died from ingesting lead fishing tackle ( three additional adult loons died from lead poisoning, but the type of lead object that killed them was unable to be definitively identified ).

We hope that our lead tackle buyback program will help encourage anglers to obey the lead tackle law (for more information about the law, please click HERE ). If everyone who fishes in New Hampshire's lakes obeys this law, we can greatly reduce the number of lead tackle mortalities that we collect in the coming years.

The loon in this x-ray was collected on Newfound Lake in 2018. It died as a result of lead poisoning from ingesting the lead fishing tackle (circled). X-ray courtesy of Meadow Pond Animal Hospital.

To kick off our expanded lead tackle buyback efforts, LPC will have a table at the upcoming New Hampshire Outdoor Expo at the Hampshire Dome in Milford, NH. On March 10th, the first 200 people to turn in one ounce or more of illegal lead fishing tackle at our table will receive free entry to the expo! The expo will feature hunting and fishing seminars and demonstrations from outdoor professionals and will have many vendors. It's sure to be a great event! For more information, please click HERE ! We hope to see you there!

I hope you enjoy this last month of winter! Before we know it, the loons will be back on our lakes and a new breeding season will begin!

All the best,

Caroline

Caroline Hughes

Volunteer/Outreach Coordinator

Loon Preservation Committee

Upcoming Events

On Thursday, March 7th , the New London Inn will be donating 50% of of their net profits from dinner between 5:30 PM and 9:00 PM to LPC! Please come eat some great food while supporting our work! The New London Inn is located at 353 Main St.New London, NH 03257. Click HERE for more details!

Join us on Sunday, March 10th at the Hampshire Dome in Milford, NH to turn in your lead fishing tackle and gain free admission to the 2019 New Hampshire Outdoor Expo! Click HERE for more information!

Join us at the Loon Center on March 28th at 7 PM for another wonderful nature talk! Dana and Bob Fox will be presenting on the birds of the Mountains of Peru and Macchu Picchu!

Loon Preservation Committee | 603-476-LOON (5666) | www.loon.org

Loon Center Hours: Open Thursday through Saturday, 9 am to 5 pm

The Loon Preservation Committee is dedicated to restoring and maintaining a healthy population of loons throughout New Hampshire; monitoring the health and productivity of loon populations as sentinels of environmental quality; and promoting a greater understanding of loons and the natural world.