MOULTONBOROUGH, N. H. (AP) — The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department says two loons have died from ingested lead fishing tackle.
The first loon was found June 17 on Long Pond in Lempster. Examinations showed lead tackle in the loons gizzard and fishing line and two fishing jigs that tested positive for lead.
A second lead-poisoned loon was found on Cold Spring Pond in Stoddard on July 6. This male loon had been captured and released on July 1 in the course of routine banding. Blood tests conducted the following day revealed high lead levels, and the loon was later found to have lead jig and fishing line in its gizzard.
The deaths come just weeks after the implementation of a new law strengthening the ban on lead fishing tackle in the state.
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