Information for government agencies

Lead ingestion by California condors from bullet fragments or shot that may remain in gut-piles or in un-retrieved hunter-killed carcasses has been a conservation issue for some time. However, only recently has the condor program reached out to hunters and ranchers to help address this issue.

We want your help!

For the past 18 months, the National Shooting Sports Foundation, Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers’ Institute, the Wildlife Management Institute, California Department of Fish and Game, Arizona Game and Fish Department, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and other organizations have been working together to conduct research and develop a communications campaign to educate hunters and ranchers and enlist their voluntary support to address the issue of potential lead exposure from spent ammunition..

Research indicates that hunters and ranchers have a low level of awareness about this issue. At the same time, there is a very high willingness among hunters and ranchers to take action if they are convinced that there is a problem and if they are asked to do so.

A hunter/rancher coalition has been formed to assist in implementing the education campaign.

To help ensure success, it is critically important that you and other “Condor Cooperators” are aware of the coalition’s efforts and assist where possible. One important area of assistance is in your communications efforts—with media, staff, other interested stakeholders, and with hunters and ranchers themselves.

The following links contain the science-based key messages to use and tips for communicating about this issue with hunters and ranchers.

Please share this information with anyone in your agency that works with hunters, ranchers, and/or condors.
 

info@condorinfo.org | content ©2006 D.J. Case