Get The Lead Out To Save The Loons

Nothing, perhaps, is more iconic of Minnesota summers than the sights and sounds of loons at the lake. The mesmerizing emergence of a loon call out of the morning mist can have the emotional potency that lingers in our memories for lifetime. OouuuuWWWWoooooooooooo.  (Just for fun, learn about loon vocalizations).

But friends, our state bird needs our help.  Lead fishing tackle is dangerous to loons and we can help restore their population by “getting the lead out”.

One in five loons die of lead poisoning. Loons eat fish with tackle ingested or attached, and also ingest lead sinkers as they pick up pebbles at the bottom of a lake to aid in digestion. Lead poisoning impacts other wildlife as well including eagles, swans, and some mammals.

The x-ray of a dead loon demonstrating digestion of lead tackle (photo credit to MPCA).

The Get The Lead Out (GTLO) initiative of the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) is an ‘educational program to protect and restore the loon population of Minnesota by reducing their exposure to lead-based fishing tackle’.  The program provides tackle exchanges throughout the state–turn in your lead-based tackle and get some lead-free jigs and sinkers in return.

The initiative started in the early 2000s.  During the first run of the program, the MPCA coordinated 200 tackle exchanges that resulted in the collection of over 8,000 lbs of lead!

The program is back with monies received by the MPCA following a settlement with the BP oil company.  In 2010, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico impacted the primary wintering area for Minnesota Loons—between 600-1,000 loons were directly affected by the oil spill and many more were impacted in the years following the spill.

WLSSD’s Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Facility is proud to be a lead tackle exchange location. HHW is open Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 9am – 4pm. As long as you’re coming down for a tackle exchange, grab your fluorescent bulbs, left-over paint, and used motor oil for FREE and safe disposal!  The loons will thank you and reward you for years to come with loon antics and vocalizations that make this place home!

Lead-free tackle is available in exchange of lead tackle at WLSSD’s Household Hazardous Waste Facility.

In additional to using the tackle exchange, fisherfolks can purchase lead-free tackle.

Check out additional information on GTLO:  Fact Sheet   FAQs