The Copper Bullets That Are Saving America’s Raptors | WILD HOPE

Golden eagles are one of the largest raptors in North America, and their numbers are declining due to an unlikely poison: lead ammunition left behind by game hunters. Eagles scavenge on animal remains contaminated by lead bullets, so conservationists are proposing a radical solution: getting hunters to go lead-free.
When hunters use lead ammunition, their bullets can fragment into hundreds of tiny pieces upon impact. These fragments are then left behind in gut pits that scavengers like golden eagles, California condors, and bald eagles feed on. Over time, the lead weakens their bones and interrupts nerve function, causing the eagles to lose coordination, become paralyzed, or eventually die.
That’s where Sporting Lead-Free comes in. Their mission: build a grassroots movement to educate hunters about lead-free alternatives like copper bullets, bringing the community back to their roots as conservationists. Through ballistics demonstrations, x-ray scans, and global ambassadors, this is an issue where every individual truly can choose to make a difference.
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[@mmps18]

Never even thought about bullets like this before. Bless the lead-free manufacturers and thank you PBS for your hopeful nature content!

[@LIZZIE-lizzie]

This is no small change. If every hunter was to change to lead free bullets a huge difference can be achieved! Thank you for a great video!

[@jamesducey2685]

It is super grand that some people care about our wild raptors.

[@hardcard254]

If only they cared about the animals they murder for sport.

[@OvertheRiverandThroughtheWoods]

Yes! And lead free fishing tackle too (to save the loons and other fish eating waterfowl).

[@jojodress]

EXCELLENT point! 👍

[@DanielPetukhin]

A very welcome move! Extremely important subject

[@andydragtstra4707]

You are doing gods work, love to see people caring so much about animals!

[@alishademmery3581]

Gorgeous animals

[@maribellemontero6119]

Switch to lead free ammunition PLEASE!

[@brucepoole8552]

In california we are totally lead free

[@user-st3mr9ov2b]

I am a vegetarian. And I know fishers & hunters do so much conservation work. Survival skills are so important & ethical, simply buying & consuming fish & meat is not.

[@colbykinney5633]

I appreciate your take on things . There's a bunch of vitriol between people that doesn't need to be there. ✌️

[@chextabexta4425]

Both are important

[@vupham.wildlife]

amazing research the impact of lead poison, wow

[@worlddocumentary145]

nice documentary

[@user-st3mr9ov2b]

If we make it an us against them, a war, we all loose. We all need to try & find a middle ground. Hunters will always hunt, indigenous people need to hunt, no government will ever ban hunting. Focus on the fact that if hunters care about ecology, the environment, animal welfare etc. That is a huge win. As a vegetarian I will always respect these people. Especially when they are hunting animals that are numerous, within specific seasons & prioritise a quick clean kill. A fanatical approach to this will paint all vegetarians & vegans in a poor light.

[@peasinourthyme5722]

Yes, true words!

[@mungobaggins8197]

Just a friendly reminder to everyone here: Human being are an animal species on this planet, and have an ecological niche to fill. Just because we’ve lost touch with our role in the food web due to industrialization, does not mean that role no longer exists. There will always need to be at least some human hunting in order to play our role in the environment. It probably needs to be more regulated, but it’s as necessary to well-being of the land as other large predators are (and they should be further re-introduced as well). In fact, removing all human hunting would just be repeating the same mistake that we’ve made in the past, removing a major predator from an environment in hopes that the other animals flourish. We’ve learned the hard way that that isn’t how it works. Everything is more complicated and interwoven than that. To put this in perspective: Humans lived on every continent during the height of the ice age. In North America, for example, we have fossil human footprints that are 23,000 years old. Large areas of land were scrubbed bare by glaciers, and everywhere else had a completely different climate. The new environment and species that emerged when the glaciers receded have only ever known a world with humans in it. Everything as we know it today has evolved alongside humans and we are a part of the balance. Just because we’ve lost part of our connection to our ecological role in modern times, that does not mean that the need for that role disappeared.

[@mr.x2567]

Do you have any evidence? Because last time I’ve checked, humans have been doing more harm than good to the natural world.

[@Kaikaifilu1994]

Everybody knows this. I’m not a hunter, but at the same time as much as you hunters get a bad-rep you are quote NOT exempt from accountability, and before you start with the Robert Pittman-crap or whatever know that quite a few species here in the States have slipped through the cracks and thanks to ZOOS we’ve now got many of our endangered and critically-endangered species back from the brink. You can say you’re “conservationists” but don’t bullshit yourself and say you’re *the* “conservationists” based on frivolous “facts”.

[@thefakebluejay5394]

⁠@@Kaikaifilu1994 i think the original comment was just saying, in general, that human hunters are a predator, therefore, they also maintain the levels of the animals that are hunted so removing human hunting altogether would be like removing an animal predator, like wolves, in the sense that the prey animal’s population could increase way too much from a sudden change like that they also said hunting needs to be more regulated so, again, i don’t think they were trying to say humans should be exempt from accountability, they were just speaking in general about the positive of humans’ role. you’re absolutely right when you say that humans have caused the endangerment of many animal species i hope that explanation helps

[@chextabexta4425]

Upon the arrival of humans came the extinction of large megafauna. And those were ecologically important. Humans are naive. But are capable of change.

[@gothic_oma]

​@@thefakebluejay5394 Thank you for taking the time to put this into perspective. One can absolutely be a conservationist and a hunter at the same time. Anyone who says otherwise should really take a moment to realize they are having an emotional "knee-jerk" reaction to the situation. Hunters should absolutely be held accountable. Humans have the role of animal husbandry whether they realize it or not.

[@paulyyun]

I promise to never shoot a lead bullet ever again.

[@NinhAn-my1zv]

Con đại bàng bay lượn trên núi rất đẹp❤❤❤

[@pepitomacondo.8344]

10:28 he and the meat are almost the same weight

[@johnibrazzell764]

🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

[@НастяОвчинникова]

Fast mechanic 78')

[@krose6451]

There is a lot of ignorance in these comments. Seems to be divided between people who just want to ignore we've known the issues with lead for years and do have data, and then people not willing to admit that things are complex and rather obviously have embraced what feels right to them rather than actually taking a step back to do the research. Nuance is a thing people.

[@jojodress]

What?

[@clam371384]

Interesting that she hunts others animal but saves others

[@yanwain9454]

there are different types of hunters. some people just like to kill things but other people seem to have a lot of respect for nature and they actually use the meat from the hunt, which is a good way to avoid supporting factory farming. somewhere 100,000 years ago, some human hunter made friends with a wolf and now we have welsh corgis.

[@lukiss8861]

Hopefully, she hunts species that are in excess; but avoids those that are endangered.

[@colbykinney5633]

Most hunters love animals believe it or not.

[@Batstard556]

This is actually quite the contentious topic in conservationist circles- we call it charismatic vs non charismatic species If an animal is cute, or majestic, or iconic, everyone will want to save it, but if it isn't, not many care Hence why dozens of invertebrates go extinct a year but news focuses on the giant panda.

[@thefakebluejay5394]

they call themselves “hunters and conservationists” because they’re hunters that care about the impact their hunting has on the environment if you cut down a tree, but replant other trees, you’re taking what you need from the environment while also maintaining the ecosystem. the same logic applies here if you follow state regulations (don’t kill animals that are too young/too small, only hunt in certain areas, etc.) you’re hunting animals, but making sure your present actions don’t deter the animals’ future generations from surviving. you’re taking resources from the land without harming the balance of wildlife in the case of lead bullets, we’re talking about how the hunting of one animal is affecting the lives of other animals, so making the switch to copper bullets is protecting the future generations of those affected scavengers, like the golden eagle (i’m not saying i subscribe to the concept of shooting being an ethical method of killing, i’m just explaining the logic presented in the video)

[@catpax6075]

To me, hunters are like cops. There are just too many few good ones. And way too many bad ones.

[@user-st3mr9ov2b]

...and no I don't eat fish/chicken. I don't eat meat when it's more convenient. My parents fed me meat, but I stopped them.I forage, & if I had to eat meat for survival I would hunt & fish. I know the basics. But as I don't need this, I build habitats. So hopefully one day there is an abundance of wildlife for all hunting animals (yep, the human is an animal) to eat.

[@bluedirtgreen]

Hard numbers and data in the presentation would be better than hyperbole and carefully worded statements.

[@yanwain9454]

maybe the raptors can fill in a customer survey

[@LIZZIE-lizzie]

When knowing lead is poisenous, does it take much for a hunter to use lead free bullets to protect scavangers in the wild⁉️ Quite a dismissive statement for the wildlife who suffer from lead poisening.

[@bluedirtgreen]

@@LIZZIE-lizzie If hunters are the people that need convincing then there needs to be a scientific presentation and not an emotional plea. The didn't even address which ammunition is causing the most problems. Before you say, "dUh LeAd KiND" know that there are many configurations in many calibers with many different compositions of bullets and shot.

[@Kaikaifilu1994]

Are you just a triggered hunter that’s afraid of accountability?

[@bluedirtgreen]

@@Kaikaifilu1994 Accountability for what? There wasn't any relevant information put forward. What types of ammunition are they referring to that is a problem? What exactly qualifies as "elevated" levels? Where on the causes of raptor mortality does lead poisoning even rank?

[@helovestaylor]

First ❤

[@Lizard-Bro2024]

You beat me to it!😉🫡👍👏

[@enx2083]

"in utero kids" wtf kinda language is that pbs?

[@davidsilence3463]

Hunt for food if you must. But please don’t pretend that it is sport. Sport involves a contest between two teams or individuals, who both compete on equal terms.

[@peasinourthyme5722]

Good point

[@yanwain9454]

plenty of angry vegans in the comments here..........just curious.....do you have any criticism for the vegan extremists who promote the idea that we should be culling all the "non vegan animals" to create a "vegan planet"? any criticism for that idea whatsoever or is it vegan solidarity all the way?

[@wormpatrol]

What a strange question. Why would you assume they aren't criticised and ridiculed by actual vegans? Anyone who says something that ridiculous doesn't understand what veganism is, and are most likely just a clout chaser. Hope this helps.

[@Kaikaifilu1994]

I don’t hunt, but at the same time I’m not a supposed vegan that’s totally ant-hunting. You do you. However, I’m totally for hunter ACCOUNTABILITY and calls BS about hunters being the quote “true conservationists” when ZOOS have saved PLENTY of our endangered and critically-endangered species that mor often than not DON’T hunt. We’ll work with y’all, sure, but don’t go hogging the conservation-credit here in the States.

[@UnaRose]

I've been in the vegan community for 18 years and have never heard a vegan say this or even discuss it. You obviously don't understand what vegan means. So this is just more hunter anti vegan propaganda. But kudos for coming up with something new and even more ridiculous than usual.

[@yanwain9454]

​@@wormpatrol well i assume this because the videos where vegan influencers have made these statements don't show any negative comments from vegans. i'm aware this is not a commonly held position among vegans, but i still think it's interesting that vegans will get angry at hunters who are trying to be responsible and then show solidarity with vegans who are talking about insane and environmentally destructive actions. There are vegans who have suggested that we should be actively shooting these raptors because they are carnivorous and you are mad at these hunter's efforts to save the raptors because the hunters want to continue hunting rather than supporting factory farming. the only thing that will please the vegans is if the hunters give up hunting and go vegan..........why do i feel like the vegans would suddenly leave these hunters alone if the hunters burned an American flag?

[@terryford7459]

Her voice is so DAYUUUUM irritating 😅

[@terrydixon7684]

BS... give us some numbers! I can't believe the numbers would be significant.

[@slowmammal]

"Hunter and conservationist" is like saying someone is a "vegan and carnivore".

[@Valorene]

Not if you hunt responsibly. Which a lot of hunters don't do, but that doesn't mean it's not possible. Unfortunately lots of hunters aren't and don't want to be educated.

[@Soulkal1979]

Yes, totally agree... so confusing to see them have such empathy for one animal and none for the other.

[@johnortmann3098]

Hunters pay for most conservation through license fees and excise taxes on gear.

[@bjornolson6527]

You are uninformed, @slowmammal

[@slowmammal]

​@bjornolson6527 Either you don't understand the definition of conservation, or you're cherry picking certain parts of it to suit whatever works for you. So, you're uninformed or willfully ignorant ✌🏼

[@monicasong427]

Just as the USDA has as an obligation to prop up disease ridden animal agriculture industries; National park reserves and channels such as PBS are harshly influenced by organizations that promote activities that exploit vital wildlife. No human hunting has ever saved a species from the extinction.

[@Kaikaifilu1994]

Look up the Robert-Pittman Act. I don’t hunt.

[@monicasong427]

@@Kaikaifilu1994 Legislations are only effective when enforced. Human hunters are notorious for clearing lands to make way for such destructive activities. Vital native carnivores actively seek weak, injured, and sick individuals. Thereby, increasing the health of the species gene pool they prey upon. Human hunters needlessly target the largest, strongest, and most robust individuals only to weaken the gene pool leading the species to extinction.

[@alishademmery3581]

Abolish hunting of any kind

[@krose6451]

And when that completely destroyes everything? You have to recognize that humans have thrown things so out of wake that we actually need to step in to keep it sprialling from the damage we've done. There arent enough predators left to keep the numbers down and herds moving on as an example deer. So if left unhunted by people they would actually eat everything beyond what nature can recover from. Looking into wolves in yellowstone park can give you lovely clear examples of the issue. Then there are the hunters who specifically target invasive species that are out competing everything local and need to be removed. Look Im not a hunter myself, I love animals, I hate that its necessarily but the research and sense shows it is. Situations are complex and generally if your speaking in absolutes then your not looking at realistic or helpful solutions.

[@lakehuron7733]

Raptors deserve to live but smaller less majestic birds don't #Speciesism

[@ethicalgamer9786]

It's 2024, Hunting must be banned.

[@sam_o_b]

Factory farming is far far worse

[@fingiess]

there can often be legitimate ecological benefits to hunting.

[@mddell58]

​@@fingiess Yep. Such as waaaaay too many deer in certain states, which always leads to far too many beautiful deer starving to death in winter. And more ....

[@taniat.4841]

You're all right.

[@mr.x2567]

@@fingiess if it was humans that are the target.

[@UnaRose]

I'm a vegan because I am a genuine conservationalist and animal lover. Killing animals is immoral, cruel and the worst of humanity. Wildlife are powerless to human's cruelty.