Has Wide­ If scavengers consume lead shot or Plans for the future include continued lead fragments within any of the releases until recovery of the condor is Ranging Effects meat they eat, poisoning can result. achieved with more than 300 individuals in the separate wild populations. These In recent years, the dangers of lead and Lead directly affects individual animals. birds still face many hazards, including other heavy metals found in paint, water Strong stomach acids break down lead collisions with power lines, shooting, pipes, and other items have been well shot or bullet fragments into lead salts and the ingestion of poisons such as documented. Problems with lead and which are then absorbed into the lead. wildlife have come to the attention of bloodstream and carried to various hunters as well. Poisoning of waterfowl parts of the body. The digestive tract results when they pick­up becomes paralyzed and starvation pellets while feeding in wetlands. results. Alternatives to Lead shot is now required nationwide when hunting waterfowl. Until this alternative ammunition is widely available, accepted and used by Existing evidence shows lead presents Recovery Program the consumer the and a clear threat to the California condor Underway other scavenger species will remain in as well as many other birds. During the danger of . Until that last century, condor numbers declined In 1987, the last wild California condor time, however, there are a number of in part due to loss of habitat. Many was taken into captivity. Many things you can do to help. Keep condors also died from shooting and agencies, including the U.S. Fish and reading to find out how. poisoning by toxic substances. At least Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service, three members of a dwindling California Department of Fish and Today it is widely acknowledged that a population died due to lead poisoning in Game, Bureau of Land Management, superior non­toxic copper bullet is the 1980s. Los Angeles Zoo, San Diego Wild available which is equal to lead in Animal Park, Ventana Wilderness . Hunters that have used the Society and the Peregrine Fund have copper bullet have been extremely Lead and Wildlife been working together to return the satisfied and recommend it as a California condor to its native habitat. suitable alternative to lead. Condors and other species of Beginning in 1992, captive­bred scavenging birds, such as golden condors were released into the wilds of eagles, bald eagles, turkey vultures, Southern California. Now captive­bred ravens and magpies eat the meat of condors also fly over the Grand Canyon dead animals. This includes any in Arizona, Big Sur in Central California animal, large or small, that may have and Baja California, Mexico. been shot and left behind by hunters, or gut piles from field­dressed game which can contain lead fragments resulting from the impact of a bullet hitting bone. If you have any questions about the California condor or the associated Recovery Program, Ventana Wildlife Society LEAD AND THE http://www.ventanaws.org/condors.htm Please contact: U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service National Park Service Hopper Mountain NWR Complex http://www.nps.gov/pinn/naturescience/condors.htm California Condor Recovery Program P.O. Box 5839 Ventura, California 93005 [email protected] www.fws.gov/hoppermountain Here are a few simple steps a recreational Tel: (805) 644­5185 Fax: (805) 644­1732 hunter can take to help reduce the threat of lead and other poisons to wild birds: Links to California Condor Recover Program Partners Los Angeles Zoo http://www.lazoo.org/condorall/ 1. Use steel shot or other alternatives to lead. Support the use of, and research into, alternatives San Diego Wild Animal Park to lead at home and in the field. http://www.sandiegozoo.org/wap/ex_condor_ridge.html 2. Don’t shoot randomly; report illegal shooting to The Oregon Zoo the authorities. http://www.oregonzoo.org/Condors/index.htm

The Peregrine Fund World Center of Birds Prey 3. Be sure of your shot and take your game with http://www.peregrinefund.org/conserve_category.asp?category= you, even small game and coyotes. California%20Condor%20Restoration 4. Bury or cover the gut pile of field­dressed game U.S. Forest Service www.fs.fed.us to make it less accessible to scavengers.

Los Padres National Forest 5. Don’t leave garbage or poisons such as http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/snfpa/final­seis/biological­ antifreeze* in the wild. documents/BO/IV/7.htm *In October 1992, a condor died due to poisoning by California Department of Fish and Game http://www.dfg.ca.gov/hcpb/species/t_e_spp/tebird/condor.shtml ethylene glycol, and ingredient in some antifreezes.

Hi Mountain Condor Lookout CALIFORNIA CONDOR www.condorlookout.org

Morro Coast Audubon www.morrocoastaudubon.org

Calpoly San Luis Obispo www.calpoly.edu

U.S. Fish and Wildlife http://www.fws.gov/endangered/