Originally Posted By: L. Brown
All we do know is that since banning DDT and switching to nontox for waterfowl, eagles have made a miraculous recovery.


You're half way right. Banning DDT had the most significant impact on the recovery of the bald eagle. The recovery was well on it's way before the requirement to use non-tox shot circa 1990. The rate of recovery was unaffected by the switch to non-toxic shot. I suggest reading the U.S. Fish and Wildlife own story (located on the left side of the page with the link listed below) about the recovery of the bald eagle, the switch to non-toxic shot isn't even mentioned.

Here's the hard numbers (again) on the recovery of the bald eagle:

http://www.fws.gov/midwest/eagle/population/chtofprs.html

The fact is, the bald eagle population is booming and it's recovery is a remarkable story. There doesn't need to be any new laws passed to aid in it's continued recovery, including banning all lead shot. Any animal whose population continues to rise to record levels, will come into increased contact with human activity. While there will be more stories of eagles dying from eating lead in deer carcasses, flying into windmills/buildings, being hit by vehicles while eating roadkill...etc. The population is extremely healthy, and will continue to rise, and there is no need to believe the fear tactics used by the anti lead/gun crowd.

“I left long before daylight, alone but not lonely.”~Gordon Macquarrie