I spoke with Bob Williamson, former head Waterfowl biologist and head of Fisheries for IDNR. He said that this is the third time that this proposed legislation has been proposed and the last two times IDNR Fisheries opposed this legislation. According to Bob the DNR found that mortality of ducks and Canada Geese was practically zero. The only species that the lead had any effect on was swans but only in rare cases. He said that lead used in fishing applications was almost always too large for ducks and geese to ingest.
I have no problem outlawing lead if it is affecting loon populations in the Northeast or the Condor in California. My arrgument is dont just propose legislation in Illinois just to propose it. This is typical of Chicago politicians.
