6/26/2012 9:30 AM
A NEW STUDY FROM UCSC SHOWS THAT CALIFORNIA CONDORS ARE FACING EPIDEMIC LEVELS OF LEAD POISONING FROM HUNTERS’ BULLETS THAT TREATENS THE RECOVERY OF THE ENDAnGERED SPECIES. MORE THAN ONE THOUSAND BLOOD SAMPLES TAKEN FROM WILD CONDORS HAS FOUND THAT 48 PERCENT OF THE CONDORS SAMPLED HAD LEAD LEVELS SO HIGH THAT THEY COULD HAVE DIED WITHOUT PROPER TREATMENT. CONDORS FACE THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY ARE SCAVENGERS, WHOM EAT DEAD ANIMALS THAT HUNTERS HAVE SHOT, AND INGEST LEAD BULLET FRAGMENTS. DESPITE THIS, THE STUDY HAS FOUND THAT EVEN A BAN ON LEAD BULLETS IN THE CONDORS’ HABITAT HAVE HAD LITTLE EFFECT ON THE LEAD LEVELS.
