Defenders' Experts
California Condor Management and Policy
Defenders is actively engaged in helping to protect the California condor from ongoing threats to its successful recovery.
We spearheaded the effort to eliminate the threat of lead poisoning by supporting state legislation and the associated regulatory process that requires the use of non-lead ammunition within current and potential condor habitat in California.
New State Regulations
California Fish and Game Commission Shoots Down Toxic Ammunition
The California Fish and Game Commission took historic action in December 2007 by passing new regulations that require the use of non-lead ammunition in an effort to reduce lead poisoning of critically endangered California condors. The regulations went into effect on July 1, 2008.
The regulations cover the current and historic range of the California condor, from Big Sur to Ventura and east through the southern Sierra Nevada. All hunting of big game, non-game mammals and non-game birds in the affected area requires the use of non-lead ammunition.
See the map below for details of the affected areas. A larger version of this map is available on the California Department of Fish & Game website.
Defenders attended and testified at every hearing of the California Fish & Game Commission in support of these new regulations. Read our press release.
Regulations in the News
These regulations got plenty of press coverage in California. Here are a few articles:
- New law a break for the big birds, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6/30/2008
- Copper bullets predicted to benefit hunters, Ventura County Star, 7/1/2008
State Legislation
Gov. Schwarzenegger Enacts New Law to Get the Lead Out for Condors
On October 13, 2007, Governor Schwarzenegger signed A.B. 821 - the bill to protect California condors from lead poisoning by requiring the use of non-lead ammunition within the condor’s current and historic range.
This victory comes after years of hard work on the ground, in the statehouse and especially from the efforts of activists who have repeatedly stood up for these beleaguered birds. Learn more.
Find out more about California Assembly Bill 821
Read Assembly Bill 821
The Ridley-Tree Condor Preservation Act
Learn more about the California Condor
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