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Information for ranchers
 Ranchers are
among the original conservationists
in this country. Our stewardship of land and animals is one of the
key reasons why Americans have bountiful wildlife to enjoy.
Among the conservation challenges that are facing ranchers today is
the potential of lead poisoning from spent ammunition in California condors. Blood analysis shows that up to 60 percent of
free-ranging condors have elevated lead levels (higher than
background levels). Several dozen have received emergency treatment
to reduce toxic lead levels, and at least six (two in California and
four in Arizona) are known to have died from lead poisoning.
The exact nature of how condors are getting exposed to lead is
unknown, but there is enough evidence available for ranchers and
hunters to take the issue seriously. That is, condors may get lead
from a variety of sources, but lead from bullets or shot may be one
of the sources.
By collectively encouraging the ranching community to take proactive
steps to protect condors from lead fragments that may remain in
gut-piles or in un-retrieved carcasses, we can help condors and help
ensure our continued ability to use lead ammunition.
Lead ingestion by waterfowl led to a ban on lead shot for waterfowl
hunting. This ban was the result of court action brought under the
Endangered Species Act and the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act.
We don’t want to see a ban on lead in condor areas. Therefore, a
series of pro-hunting organizations have joined together in a
coalition that endorses an education program that will teach hunters
and ranchers to take voluntary actions to minimize the exposure that
condors may have to lead. We hope you will join us in this effort.
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