Hunters and ranchers in San Benito and Monterey counties are being offered two free boxes of non-lead ammunition by the Ventana Wildlife Society, a Salinas-based conservation group that has worked to protect California condors that live on the Central Coast.
“We are so convinced that lead from spent ammunition is the number one problem for condors in the wild that we’re putting our money where our mouth is and are now providing free of charge two boxes of non-lead ammunition for residents of San Benito and Monterey counties,” said Kelly Sorenson, executive director of the society.
The program is funded by private individuals “who are passionate about wildlife conservation and who support safe hunting,” according to a statement from the wildlife society.
According to the society, wildlife biologists believe that condors are being poisoned by ingesting wildlife that has been killed by lead bullets. In 1987, the last free-flying California condor was captured from the wild and an extensive recovery effort was initiated to save the species from extinction.
The birds have been released by Ventana Wildlife Society to Big Sure since 1997 and at Pinnacles National Monument by the National Park Service since 2003. There are 62 condors living in the wild in Central California, with a total population – including zoos – of 385 birds. In the 1980s, the total population of California condors stood at 22 birds.
“This is a pilot project at this point,” Sorenson said of the free ammunition offer. “Instead of being in an adversarial or confrontational role (with hunters and ranchers), we want to work in partnership with them. It’s especially important for us to reach people in San Benito County,” where condors nest at Pinnacles National Monument.
The Ventana Wildlife Society, in partnership with Cabala’s, offers an order form through which people provide their contact information, select their cartridge or projectile calibers, and mail the form to the society. They can also order online at www.ventanaws.org/ ammunition or pick up an order form at various events and meetings in the coming months.
For hunters that prefer loaded cartridges, they will receive two boxes of 20. Those who prefer to hand load their guns can get projectiles boxes in a quantity of 50.
“We’re really looking at folks that are deer hunting, pig hunting or doing ground squirrel abatement,” Sorenson said. “Those activities, we believe, are the most likely pathway of exposure to condors that are free-flying.”
The wildlife society acknowledges that the switch to non-lead ammunition is “difficult for some people,” but it believes that by offering state-certified ammunition it can work in partnership with gun users.
“We fully understand hunting and ranching has a long history of conservation,” Sorenson said. “We see this as a way to advance that. Shooting activities are actually a benefit to condors, as they only eat dead animals. All of that is potential food for the birds. The problem is if it’s lead ammunition it’s toxic food.”
