Lead Shot Poisoning of a Pacific Loon in Alaska

Abstract

Lead poisoning, associated with ingestion of spent lead shot, was diagnosed in an adult female Pacific loon (Gavia pacifica) observed with partial paralysis on 13 June 2002 and found dead on 16 June 2002 on Kigigak Island, Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge, western Alaska, USA. A necropsy revealed three pellets of ingested lead shot in the loon's gizzard and a lead liver concentration of 31 ppm wet weight, which was consistent with metallic lead poisoning. This is the first report of lead poisoning in a Pacific loon and is the only account of lead toxicosis associated with ingestion of lead shot in any loon species breeding in Alaska.

Plastic in Roodkeelduikers: een T-nul studie in het kader van de containerramp MSC Zoe

“…Van IJsduikers, Gavia immer, en Pacifische Duikers, Gavia pacifica, twee grotere, nauw verwante soorten, is in Noord-Amerika meermalen vastgesteld dat ze naast steentjes ook loodkorrels eten. Deze loodkorrels zijn afkomstig van de jacht op watervogels (loodhagel) of van de hengelsport (loodjes) en kunnen, eenmaal door de vogels ingeslikt, leiden tot loodvergiftiging (Locke et al 1982;Pokras & Chafel 1992;Wilson et al 2004). Deze loodkorrels vallen binnen het groottespectrum van de opgenomen maagsteentjes (Franson et al 2001), en zijn ook ongeveer even groot als bijvoorbeeld de plastic pellets die massaal in zee rondzwerven en waarvan er ook vele miljoenen door de MSC Zoe zijn verloren, in de Noordzeekustzone.…”

Blood Lead Levels of Wild Steller's Eiders (Polysticta Stelleri) and Black Scoters (Melanitta Nigra) in Alaska Using a Portable Blood Lead Analyzer

“…It occurred in a Pacific loon (Gavia pacifica) on Kigigak Island in the Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge in western Alaska. 23 Although the negative effects of lead exposure to waterfowl are well known, there are limited available data on lead exposure across sea duck taxa specifically. Lead exposure has been documented to have a negative impact on the threatened spectacled eider (Somateria fisheri) population in Alaska breeding areas.…”

Long‐Term Persistence of Spent Lead Shot in Tundra Wetlands

“…The Yukon-Kuskokwim Delta (YKD), Alaska, USA, supports large numbers of various species of breeding waterbirds, particularly along the outer coastal fringe (Hodges et al 1996). Spectacled eiders (Somateria fischeri), long-tailed ducks (Clangula hyemalis), common eiders (S. mollissima), and Pacific loons (Gavia pacifica) nesting on the YKD have been shown to ingest lead pellets (Franson et al 1995, Wilson et al 2004). In 1998, the United States Fish and Wildlife Service began enforcing the 1991 nationwide ban on the use of lead shot for hunting waterfowl (including subsistence hunting) on the YKD (Flint 1998).…”