To help protect loons, the Friends of Ripple, Friends of Spirit and Lone Lake Associations are hosting its second annual Get the Lead Out event from 3-5 p.m. Saturday, July 19, at Maria Chapel in Aitkin.
The event, which includes an ice cream social, encourages anglers to exchange their lead tackle for free samples of lead-free tackle, courtesy of the DNR. Members of the lake associations will safely dispose of the lead tackle, which is considered hazardous waste.
Lead tackle is also toxic to wildlife, including loons.
The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) estimates that lead tackle leads to one in four loon deaths. That’s because loons pick up lost lead tackle while gathering pebbles for their gizzards. They may also ingest lead when they eat fish caught with the toxic tackle.
If you have tackle in a package, it should have a lead warning on it. If you no longer have the package, you might have lead tackle if it feels fairly heavy or bends easily with a pliers. Lead is also gray and dull and will leave a gray mark if you scratch it on paper.
Popular options for lead-free tackle include tungsten, steel, tin, bismuth/tin and glass. The MPCA says that lead-free alternatives are also effective. In the case of tungsten, it performs much better than lead because it sinks faster, is denser and is more sensitive.
Everyone is welcome to attend the Get the Lead Out event at Maria Chapel, located south of Aitkin at County Road 39 and Diamond Lake Street. Enjoy socializing with neighbors and an old-fashioned ice cream social. Coffee and lemonade will also be available.
