CEDAR CITY — Investigators with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources and the US Fish and Wildlife Service are seeking information after two California condors were killed in Southern Utah in the last two years.
According to a recent press release, the first California condor was discovered during the fall of 2022 in a remote area southeast of Cedar City and north of Zion National Park.
The second condor was discovered last month in the same area. Officials said that while both birds were shot with firearms, it is unclear if the two incidents are connected or what type of firearm was used.
“At this time, previous leads have not yielded results, so the DWR and USFWS are asking the public for information regarding these incidents and those who are responsible,” the press release stated.
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.”
Those 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.
Government officials said 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.
“The illegal killing of these two condors is a devastating and unnecessary loss on top of all the recent deaths from the highly pathogenic avian influenza,” DWR Avian Conservation Program Coordinator Russell Norvell said. “Between the two events, we’ve lost more than a decade’s worth of progress in the recovery of this species.”
Those with information regarding the illegal killing of these two California condors are encouraged to report it to the DWR or the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in one of the following ways:
- By calling the UTiP Hotline at 800-662-3337
- The UTDWR Law Enforcement app
- By texting 847411
- By calling the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service tip line at 844-397-8477
- Submitting a tip on the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service website
State officials said a reward may be available for information leading to the successful prosecution of those responsible and that all requests for confidentiality are respected.
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