Navajo Fish and Wildlife joins national effort to promote lead-free hunting for wildlife conservation

By Robert Bettis
Navajo Times

CHINLE – The Navajo Nation Department of Fish and Wildlife has taken a significant step toward protecting wildlife and by joining the North American Non-lead Partnership, a coalition dedicated to reducing lead poisoning in scavenging birds and other wildlife. The partnership, which includes organizations like The Peregrine Fund and the Oregon Zoo, promotes the voluntary use of lead-free ammunition to safeguard ecosystems and uphold the cultural values of respect and stewardship for the land.

Brent Powers, the program manager for the Navajo Natural Heritage Program, emphasized the importance of this voluntary initiative for the Navajo Nation. “There is no mandate here; we’re advocating for a voluntary approach,” Powers said. “Hunters can choose to switch to lead-free ammunition to protect their lands.”

Problem with lead

Lead poisoning is a well-documented threat to wildlife, particularly scavenging birds like golden eagles, turkey vultures, and California condors. These birds often feed on the remains of animals shot with lead-based ammunition, ingesting toxic fragments that can accumulate in their bodies and lead to illness or death. Studies show that lead poisoning is a leading cause of mortality for California condors and a significant threat to golden eagles, especially juveniles.

“For California condors, lead poisoning is the number one leading cause of death,” Powers explained. “For golden eagles, it’s the fourth leading cause of mortality. This isn’t just speculation – it’s been proven through multiple studies.”

To read the full article, please see the Feb. 20, 2025, edition of the Navajo Times.

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