California condors on the Central Coast are at risk of lead poisoning, according to a recent study. The report, conducted by researchers at UC Davis, was published in the journal Conservation Biology this month. The study reveals over 90 percent of condors sampled over a 15-year period had raised levels of lead in their blood. Experts say condors have been feeding on carcasses of animals shot with lead ammunition. Wildlife advocates are urging hunters and ranchers to use alternatives such as brass and copper bullets.
