Colorado Parks and Wildlife and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are asking the public for help with any information regarding the shooting of a critically endangered California Condor in late March of 2024.
The California condor was discovered just 24 hours after it was killed in March 2024, in a remote area northeast of Lewis, Colorado and west of McPhee Reservoir in Montezuma County. At this time, previous leads have not yielded results, so CPW and the USFWS are asking the public for information regarding this incident and those who are responsible.
California condors are listed under the Endangered Species Act as endangered. Because they are protected under the Endangered Species Act, it is illegal for anyone to harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, wound, kill, trap, capture or collect California condors. The individuals involved in killing these birds could face a third-degree felony charge of wanton destruction of protected wildlife, with a maximum fine of $5,000, restitution of $1,500 and a five-year prison sentence.
The historical California condor population declined to just 22 individuals in the wild by 1987. Currently, the California Condor Recovery Program, led by the USFWS, works with many partners to increase populations through captive breeding and release of these protected birds. As of June 2024, there are 85 condors in the wild in the rugged canyon country of northern Arizona and southern Utah. This number declined in 2023 due to impacts from the highly pathogenic avian influenza. The total world population of endangered California condors’ numbers more than 560 individuals, with more than half flying free in Arizona, Utah, California, and Mexico.
Call for Information
Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to come forward and assist with the investigation. Tips can be submitted in the following ways:
- Colorado Parks and Wildlife:
Colorado Operation Game Thief (OGT)
Hotline: 1-877-COLO-OGT (1-877-265-6648)
Email: game.thief@state.co.us
Website: Submit a Tip - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service:
Tip Line: 844-397-8477
Website: Submit a Tip
Should the submitted information lead to a successful prosecution of the responsible parties, a reward may be available. CPW and USFWS also assure that requests for confidentiality will be respected to protect those who come forward.
Joey Livingston is a public information officer for Colorado Parks and Wildlife in Denver. Joey has lived in Colorado for 9 years and loves the outdoors. If you have a question, please email him at joseph.livingston@cpw.state.co.us
One Response
Good luck catching those responsible.