Animal lead poisoning

It is toxic to many organs and tissues including the heart, bones, intestines, kidneys, and reproductive and nervous systems.

The use of alternative metals in shot such as steel and tungsten have been implemented since 1991 in the United States for all migratory bird hunting.

For precious animals; The mainstays of treatment are removal from the source of lead and, for precious animals who have significantly high blood lead levels or who have symptoms of poisoning, chelation therapy with a chelating agent.

[2] When hunters use lead shot, waterfowl such as ducks and other species (swan especially) can ingest the spent pellets later and be poisoned; predators that eat these birds are also at risk.

[7] In an effort to protect this species, in areas designated as the California condor's range, the use of projectiles containing lead has been banned to hunt deer, wild pig, elk, pronghorn antelope, coyotes, ground squirrels, and other non-game wildlife.

[8] Also, conservation programs exist which routinely capture condors, check their blood lead levels, and treat cases of poisoning.

X-Ray of a swan showing pellets in its gizzard
a chemical diagram of [CH2N(CH2CO2-)2]2 (shown in black) with the four O- tails binding a metal ion (shown in red).
EDTA, a chelating agent , binds a heavy metal, sequestering it.
A large tan bird of prey with dark brown neck feathers and a bare red head sits on a dead cow in a desert with dead grass and scrub
Critically endangered California condor can be poisoned when they eat carcasses of animals shot with lead pellets.