We used rates of ingested shot and elevated blood-lead levels (greater
than or equal to 0.18 ppm) to estimate the proportion of Canada geese
(Branta canadensis) exposed to lead on 3 study areas in Manitoba, Min
nesota, and Missouri. Lead exposure was prevalent on all areas and was
common after the hunting season closed, when up to 15% of geese could
have been exposed to lead shot. However, the proportion of steel shot
ingested by geese has increased during the past 2 decades. We suggest
that lead exposure is still a source of indirect hunting mortality in
Canada geese but project that the prevalence of lead exposure in the
Eastern Prairie Population and other waterfowl populations will decrea
se as nontoxic shot regulations persist and hunters use steel or other
nontoxic shot.