California Condor: In Danger of Lead Poisoning

Parents and children are not the only ones who fear lead poisoning. Following a blitzkrieg of toxic toys, California conservationists worry their beloved Condor will soon fall victim to the by-product of recreational hunting. According to the Monterey County Herald, the California Condor is likely to ingest lead in the carcasses of shot game.

When California’s hunters use lead bullets to shoot game, the bullets can shatter upon entry to the animals flesh. The shrapnel disperses into the fallen game’s surrounding tissue and through the blood stream to contaminate the carrion, of which scavenging condors consume.

California federal and state governments list the condor as an endangered species. Lead hunting and fishing gear – lead shot, lead sinkers, etc. – have long been a concern for vulnerable wildlife species, and states are increasingly mandating the use of alternatives, so hunters harm only those animals they target.

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