How to Help California Condors and Other Wildlife
Stay Informed
Learning about condors and the natural world in and of itself is a contribution. Knowledge of how biological systems work and the life cycles of animals and plants helps guide our society’s ability to make good land management decisions. Check out the links below for some useful websites.
Celebrate Working Rural Landscapes
Condors and other wildlife thrive in open landscapes with sparse human infrastructure. Because condors scavenge for dead animals, they benefit from finding the occasional cow, sheep or other ranch or farm animal that happens to die on the open range. Continuation of ranching traditions is good for people, good for condors, and a great way to ensure that wide open tracts of land will remain part of the heritage of the West.
Understand the Role of Hunting
Viable, thriving ecosystems include checks and balances. Hunting has been part of natural balances for thousands of years, depending upon grazing and browsing animals just like the coyote and mountain lion. Scavengers like condors can benefit from eating the scraps that hunters or predators leave on the land.
Hunters that use non-lead ammunition contribute significantly to the well being of condors and other animals by preventing wildlife exposure to lead, a toxic substance.
Re-Explore the Three R’s - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Keep track of your own waste and recycle what you can. Reduce the amount of trash you produce and reuse containers and items you already have. Remember to bring your own bag, water bottle, “to go” containers and utensils instead of disposable products. Not only will you help reduce energy and resource consumption, but you’ll also reduce the chance that trash will end up in the wrong place. Because many species of wildlife, including condors, can accidentally ingest plastic or other trash and end up with health problems, less trash overall = healthier landscapes. Extend the three R’s ethos to activities outside of your home and look at what you can do in your community to reduce waste and litter. Volunteering to help clean up litter from natural landscapes is a particularly effective way to help wildlife.
Report Poaching
Poachers undermine sound wildlife management, infringe on people’s privacy, and disrespect the good efforts of responsible hunters. If you have information about illegal shootings or trespass, call the Department of Fish and Game at (888) DFG-CALTIP (888-334-2258), or your local game agency.
Drive Safely
Thousands of animals die every year when they are struck by automobiles. Often, these road kills are scavenged on by other animals and sometimes the scavenger will also end up dead on the road. Condors rarely approach roads, but vultures and other scavengers often do. Slowing down and keeping an eye out for wildlife crossings are good for both wildlife and drivers. No one wants to end up with a deer on their windshield.
Post Your Observations
If you’re visiting a park or other public lands and see rare wildlife or notable behaviors you think scientists might be interested in, please contact the land management agency and report your observations. To report observations at Pinnacles, please email us at pinn_visitor_information@nps.gov.
Keep Wildlife Wild
Spread the practice and the word to not ever feed wild animals intentionally or unintentionally. Properly store food and make it inaccessible to wildlife. Condors and other wildlife need to stay wild and not become habituated to hand outs. It's bad for their health and changes their behavior negatively. If you see someone giving a hand out, please kindly tell them why it actually hurts the animal.
Volunteer
There are many groups working to help California condors survive in the wild here in California. Consider getting involved with the organization closest to where you live:
Pinnacles Partnership
Volunteer at Pinnacles
Ventana Wildlife Society
Hopper Mountain Friends Group
Santa Barbara Zoo
Hi Mountain Lookout
