Lead Tackle Buy Back Program

Lead Poisoning is a Leading Cause of Death for Adult Adirondack Loons.

A lead jig is visible on a x-ray from a loon that died of lead poisoning.

Each year, lead poisoning causes the deaths of loons, eagles, herons and other species that prey on fish when they accidentally swallow lead fishing tackle.

The number one way that loons ingest lead jigs and sinkers is when they eat a fish that has broken a line and has lead tackle in its mouth or stomach.

Sometimes loons swallow lead sinkers when they purposely swallow pebbles and small stones to help aid in digestion. A lost or discarded sinker can easily be mistaken for another pebble.

Even a few deaths each year from lead poisoning harms the Adirondack loon population, as loons are long-lived birds that typically do not breed until they are at least 6 years old. Successful pairs only have one or two chicks, and many young loons don’t survive their first year. The death of one adult breeding loon, therefore, has a trickle down effect on the overall population that may not be truly felt for several years.

By choosing to fish with lead-free tackle, anglers can help protect loons and other wildlife from death by lead poisoning.

Lead Tackle and Fishing Line Entanglement - A Double Threat

Adirondack lakes offer some incredible opportunities for fishing. Broken and discarded fishing line, however, which may or may not still have lead tackle attached to it, is a major problem for wildlife.

Fishing line entanglement is often a death sentence for loons and other aquatic animals, making it difficult for them to move freely, eat or fend off predators. It can also result in accidentally swallowed lead fishing tackle.

The Adirondack Center for Loon Conservation calls on all anglers and lovers of wildlife to properly discard or recycle fishing line, and to use lead-free tackle to protect the species and natural spaces we all love.

A loon tangled in fishing line that may or may not have lead tackle attached to it.

TRADE IN YOUR LEAD— Save loons instead!

Loons are a symbol of wilderness and the North - let’s keep it that way!

Join us in a regional effort to remove lead tackle from our waters and save loons and other wildlife. Trade in any lead tackle for a $10 voucher for non-lead tackle at participating locations, and be entered to win prizes.

  1. Bring an ounce or more of your lead fishing tackle to one of our participating fishing tackle retailers (listed below) or to the Adirondack Loon Center in Saranac Lake.

  2. Receive a $10 voucher to use towards the purchase of new non-toxic fishing tackle at the outfitter.

  3. The person who turns in the most lead will receive a prize, and others will be entered to win prizes throughout the year.

*One voucher per person, per calendar year

Visit a Participating Tackle Outfitter

Turn in your Lead - Save Loons instead!

 
 

Visiting the Loon Center? Turn in your lead fishing tackle to us!

 
 

Want to become a participating tackle shop? Send us an email at education@adkloon.org

 

Help us spread the word! Are you running a fishing tournament? Do you belong to a fish and game club? Contact us and we’d be happy to do outreach at an event, give a presentation, or provide more resources for anglers.

Actions you can take:

  • Talk about your reasons to make the switch

  • Ask your local tackle shops to sell more lead-free options

  • Collect all discarded or unused fishing line and properly dispose of it - don’t leave fishing line in the lake or lakeshore

This project is funded through grants from the Blake Nuttall Ornithological Fund, Glenn and Carol Pearsall Adirondack Foundation, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service on behalf of the Bouchard Barge 120 Buzzards Bay Oil Spill Trustees.

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