Regional News & Recovery Updates

Endangered Species Bulletin, Sept, 1998

Regional endangered species staffers have reported the following news:

Region 1

Lahontan Cutthroat Trout (Oncorhynchus clarki henshawi) In April, Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) biologist Rick Vetter worked with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), a private landowner, and volunteers in the Alvord Desert region to retrieve 3,000 Lahontan cutthroat trout. Due to a fish screen failure, the trout had escaped from suitable habitat at Mann Lake into 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) of irrigation ditch and an adjacent creek. Biologists used electroshocking equipment to stun the fish for capture and transport back to Mann Lake. The FWS is working with ODFW and the landowner on a Partners for Fish and Wildlife project that will prevent the threatened trout from migrating up into this irrigation ditch in the future.

California Condor (Gymnogyps californianus) There are a number of condor updates to report. To begin, several of the free-flying condors in southern California have been exploring some new territory. In late April, Hopper Mountain National Wildlife Refuge Complex (Refuge Complex) received reports of condors at the U.S. Forest Service Ranger Station at Figueroa Mountain and on surrounding ranch lands. A group of condors also visited the Ojai Valley, California, home of actor Larry Hagman on April 28. Mr. Hagman was extremely gracious and granted Refuge Complex biologists access to his property. The Refuge Complex sent thank you notes and enameled condor pins to Mr. Hagman and the other ranchers who offered their assistance. Other areas frequented by the condors include the Tehachapi Mountains and portions of the Sequoia National Forest in Tulare County, California.

In late April, one of the youngest reintroduced condors (identified as #53) made a significant flight east from Lion Canyon in the Los Padres National Forest and ended up on the outskirts of Santa Paula, California, near an equestrian facility. The initial sighting of #53 in this area was made by a local horse trainer. Other ranchers in the area also placed calls to the office. Refuge Complex Acting Deputy Project Leader Chris Barr traveled to the area and successfully captured the bird on April 30. The bird was transported back to the Lion Canyon area and re-released. This condor appeared healthy and was feeding normally after its re-release at Lion Canyon, but on May 20 Refuge Complex biologists observed the bird favoring its right leg. Wildlife Biologist Mike Barth captured the bird on June 2, and a preliminary assessment of the injury indicated that the bird had suffered a severe compound fracture of its leg. The condor was transported to the Los Angeles Zoo Veterinary Hospital, where x-rays revealed the presence of small metallic fragments around the wound site. Samples of the fragments were sent to the FWS National Wildlife Forensics Laboratory in Ashland, Oregon. Tests performed at the lab indicated that the fragments were from a bullet. The FWS Law Enforcement office in Torrance, California, was contacted. Condor #53 underwent two surgical procedures at the zoo to stabilize the leg and to treat it for an infection, but it died on August 9. A necropsy was performed, but results of blood and tissue analyses were still pending as of August 20 and no definitive cause of death had been determined.

On May 1, refuge biologists monitoring condors at Lion Canyon observed condor #05 behaving oddly. The bird appeared weak and was unable to fly or land properly. It was captured and immediately taken to a veterinary clinic in Frazier Park, California, that is approved to provide assistance to the refuge. The following morning, the bird was transported to the Los Angeles Zoo's Veterinary Hospital for further examination. Tests performed on #05 revealed a blood lead level of 291.4 [micro] g/dl, far in excess of the 100 [micro] g/dl level considered fatal to condors. The bird immediately underwent intensive supportive care, including chelation treatment for the lead. Because its crop was no longer able to pass food, the hospital inserted a feeding tube to provide nourishment. By mid-June, the feeding tube was removed and the bird was able to pass small quantities of meat through its crop. As of August 20, the bird was, feeding normally. It has been transferred from the hospital into a flight pen with other condors, where it continues to gain strength and put on weight.

On July 17, two wild condors were found dead in a natural pot hole filled with water that is located on a large sandstone outcrop at the head of Lion Canyon. The condors, ages 1 and 2, may have entered the pot hole to drink or bathe and drowned when they were unable to exit the steep-sided cavity. A necropsy conducted at the San Diego Zoo the next day did not reveal any data contrary to the conclusion of death by drowning. The condors were last seen alive on July 10 and were found when a field biologist picked up a signal from a submerged radio.

Currently, there are 33 condors in the wild--18 in California and 15 in northern Arizona. A total of 19 chicks were hatched from the captive breeding flocks this year. The total population of California condors now stands at 149 (this includes both wild and captive populations).