Ventana Wildlife Society

This Project Addresses the Primary Issue Preventing Recovery of the Endangered California Condor Lead Toxicosisresulting From Ingestion of Carrion Tainted With Lead Ammunition. Pervasive Throughout the Species Range, It Isresponsible for Half of All Known Condor Mortality. a Self Sustaining, Wild Population Is Not Thought to Beachievable While Ingestion of Lead Ammunition Is Common. Over the Past Three Decades, the California Condorrecovery Program Has Focused Field Efforts, Research, and Resources Toward Identifying, Understanding, Andcombating the Threats Posed to Condors From Lead. This Project Is a Joint Proposal With Benefits Expected Acrossthe Northern, Central, and Southern Condor Management Areas and Potentially Throughout the Entire Range. It Willaddress the Primary Threat of Lead Contamination Through Outreach Conducted by Ventana Wildlife Societyspecialists to Sporting Groups, Hunters, Ranchers, and Others. an Additional Part Time Outreach Specialist Willbe Added to the VWS Team. This Project Will Support VWS S Capacity to Distribute Free Non Lead Ammunitionthroughout Ca, and Increase Capacity in Central Ca, Further Reducing the Use of Lead Ammunition. Through Theseefforts We Address a Primary Objective in the Recovery Plan for the California Condor (usfws 1996).