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THEY ARE THREATENED IN NEW HAMPSHIRE. THEY HOPE THE PROGRAM PROTECTS THE ANIMALS AND EDUCATES THE PUBLIC. THEY MAY NOT BE THE STATE BIRD, BUT LOONS ARE JUST AS MUCH A PART OF NEW HAMPSHIRE AS THE WHITE MOUNTAINS OR PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARIES. >> I THINK IF YOU HEAR A LOON CALLING, JUST ONCE WHEN YOU’RE ARE EIGHT YEARS OLD, YOU WILL REMEMBER IT REST OF YOUR LIFE. TIM: BUT WITH JUST A LITTLE MORE THAN 300 PAIRS LIVING HERE, THE POPULATION HAS TAKEN A HIT. MOSTLY BECAUSE OF FISHING TACKLE MADE OF LEAD. >> IT IS THE NUMBER ONE CAUSE OF MORTALITY WE SEE IN THE NEW HAMPSHIRE POPULATION. IT INGESTS LED TACKLE, IT WILL CAUSE LEAD POISONING AND AS FAR AS WE KNOW WILL KILL IT WITHIN 42 WEEKS -- TWO TO FOUR WEEKS GOOD -- WEEKS. TIM: LEGISLATION WAS PASSED BACK IN 2016 TO PREVENT THAT. >> THERE IS A MAN ON SALE IN FRESHWATER USE IN NEW HAMPSHIRE THAT IS THE TOUGHEST STANDARD IN THE NATION. TIM: BUT OFFICIALS HAVE FOUND THEY ARE STILL BEING USED. SO THE LOON PRESERVATION COMMITTEE IS TAKING THINGS A STEP FURTHER THROUGH A TACKLE BUY-BACK PROGRAM. AJ’S BAIT AND TACKLE IN MEREDITH IS ONE OF NINE LOCATIONS WHERE PEOPLE CAN RETURN IT FOR A VOUCHER. >> YOU FILL OUT THE NAME AND ADDRESS AND IT IS VALUED AT $10 FOR ANYTHING IN THE STORE. >> LOONS ARE A SPECIES WERE WE CAN MAKE IT DIFFERENT. TIM: FOR A LIST OF PARTICIPATING

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A new push is being made to protect New Hampshire's loons from being poisoned by lead fishing tackle.A new buyback program is aimed at increasing the loon population. State wildlife officials said loons are threatened in New Hampshire, and lead sinkers and jigs are dangerous to the birds.>> Link: Loon Preservation Committe lead tackle buyback programJohn Cooley, a biologist with the Loon Preservation Committee, said loons are an iconic part of New Hampshire."I think if you hear a loon calling in the evening when you're on the lake just once when you're 8 years old, you'll remember it the rest of your life," he said.But there are only a little more than 300 pairs living in the Granite State. Cooley said the population has taken a hit because of fishing tackle made of lead. "It's the No. 1 cause of mortality we see in the New Hampshire loon population," Cooley said. "If a loon ingests lead tackle, it's going to cause lead poisoning in the loon, and as far as we know, it will kill it within two to four weeks."Legislation was passed in 2016 to address the problem."Lead tackle, sinkers and jigs of one ounce or less, there's a ban on sale and freshwater use in New Hampshire," said Sheridan Brown, of the Loon Preservation Committee. "That's the toughest standard in the nation."But officials said lead tackle is still being used. The Loom Preservation Committee is taking its efforts a step further through a tackle buyback program. AJ's Bait and Tackle in Meredith is one of nine locations where people can return the gear for a voucher."They fill out their name and address, and it's valued at $10 for anything in this store," owner Alan Nute said.Cooley said the efforts to protect the loons can pay off."Loons are a wildlife species where we can really make a difference," he said.