Lead shot poisoning of a Pacific loon in Alaska

H.M. Wilson; J.L. Oyen; L. Sileo

doi:10.7589/0090-3558-40.3.600

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USGS · 1003798

Lead shot poisoning of a Pacific loon in Alaska

H.M. Wilson·J.L. Oyen·L. Sileo

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Abstract

Lead poisoning, associated with ingestion of spent lead shot, was diagnosed in an adult female Pacific loon ( Gavia pacifica ) observed with partial paralysis on 13 June 2002 and found dead on 16 June 2002 on Kigigak Island, Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge, western Alaska, USA. A necropsy revealed three pellets of ingested lead shot in the loona's gizzard and a lead liver concentration of 31 ppm wet weight, which was consistent with metallic lead poisoning. This is the first report of lead poisoning in a Pacific loon and is the only account of lead toxicosis associated with ingestion of lead shot in any loon species breeding in Alaska.

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Journal of Wildlife Diseases Article

Source-reported bounding extent: 60.81160882564956° to 60.88252155556359° latitude; -165.032844543457° to -164.86736297607422° longitude. This indicates report coverage, not an exact sampling location. View area on OpenStreetMap.

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H.M. Wilson, J.L. Oyen, L. Sileo. 2004. Lead shot poisoning of a Pacific loon in Alaska. https://doi.org/10.7589/0090-3558-40.3.600

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