Local loon death prompts lead buy back program for anglers

MOULTONBOROUGH — The Loon Preservation Committee recently recorded the first loon mortality from lead tackle ingestion of 2024 on Merrymeeting Lake. As a result, LPC and the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department want to remind anglers about the ban on lead sinkers and jigs weighing one ounce or less for all freshwater in the state.

In 2023, a total of six loons were confirmed to have died in New Hampshire after ingesting lead sinkers and jigs. These loons died on lakes or ponds across the state, including Newfound Lake in Hebron, Deering Reservoir in Deering, Franklin Pierce Lake in Hillsborough, Lake Winnipesaukee in Meredith, Bow Lake in Strafford, and Little Squam Lake in Holderness. A loon will die from lead poisoning approximately two to four weeks after ingesting lead fishing tackle.

To address this issue and help anglers dispose of lead sinkers and jigs they can no longer legally use, LPC and NHFG have teamed up with 14 shops to offer a Lead Tackle Buyback program. From now through the end of the year, anglers can exchange one ounce or more of illegal lead tackle — lead sinkers and lead-headed jigs individually weighing one ounce or less — for a $10 gift certificate redeemable at the following shops in the Lakes Region:

• The Tackle Shack in Meredith
• Ossipee’s Bait and Tackle in Effingham
• Squam Boat Livery in Holderness
• The Loon Center in Moultonborough
• Berry’s Bait in Alton
• And Newfound Sales and Trading Post in Bristol

The Loon Preservation Committee will also be operating a booth at Discover Wild New Hampshire Day in Concord on Saturday, April 20, at which one oz. or more of banned tackle can be exchanged for $10 cash.

Collection receptacles for old lead tackle can be found at all New Hampshire Fish and Game offices, numerous transfer stations, and other sites throughout the state.

Full details of the buyback, a complete list of participating shops and additional disposal sites can be found at loonsafe.org.