Tundra Swan
January 13, 2021
Tundra Swans are especially vulnerable to lead poisoning. They consume old lead shot that persists in our wetlands despite being prohibited for many decades. Swans ingest pellets mistakenly instead of small rocks that assist in digestion. The pellets break down in the stomach and the lead is absorbed into the bloodstream causing blindness, weakness, difficulty eating, seizures, and in many cases death. This cygnet—young swan—arrived at the wildlife center with extremely high lead levels of 460 ug/ml. The bright white, round shapes in the radiographs are the pieces of lead found in the swan and later removed. The patient arrived with such a severe case, he died from the lethal effects of the lead. His story is a sad reminder of how much our actions, even decades in the past, can still have on our wild neighbors today.
