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Press release from the Yurok Tribe:

In January, Northern California Condor Restoration Program (NCCRP) condor B7, Pey-noh-pey-o-wok’ (I am friend or kind or good natured) was found dead in the remote backcountry of Redwood National Park. His passing marks the first loss of a condor from the Northern California population under the NCCRP. At roughly 18 months of age, he was the youngest condor in the flock and had been in the wild for just over three months. 
 
The NCCRP delayed a formal announcement until the official cause of death was determined. The results from a pathology examination indicate the cause of death to be lead poisoning. Pey-noh-pey-o-wok’ was found to have a lead air gun pellet in his ventriculus, or gizzard, and high to very high concentrations of lead in his liver and bone. The source of the pellet is unknown.  
 
“The loss of Pey-noh-pey-o-wok’ was a huge blow to us. Death is part of work with wild animals, but his was hard as our first loss” said Program Manager and Yurok Tribe Senior Biologist Chris West. “Thankfully, we have 17 other amazing birds in our flock carrying our hopes, dreams, and prayers.” 

“A natural death would have been less painful for us, the humans watching as he started to flourish in the wild. Pey-noh-pey-o-wok’ was known for his friendliness, preening and huddling together with other condors, sharing food easily. He had only been flying free for a few months. That he was brought down by something human caused and preventable is devastating,” said Yurok Tribe Wildlife Department Director Tiana Williams-Claussen.  
 
Lead is the single biggest threat to condors in the wild and is responsible for nearly half of released condor mortalities where the cause of death is determined. Almost all poisonings are linked to carrion from lead-shot game, livestock, and vermin. A tiny lead bullet fragment is enough to kill not only a condor but also vultures and eagles, should they scavenge on remains of an animal killed with lead ammunition. These important scavengers remove carcasses from the landscape and are critical in reducing the spread of disease in many game species. 
 
Pey-noh-pey-o-wok’ was one of 18 free-flying condors released by the Northern California Condor Restoration Program (NCCRP) over the last several years. In 2022, the NCCRP released the first condors to fly over ancestral Yurok territory in more than a century. The program plans to release the next condor cohort later this year.   
 
 To learn more about the Yurok Tribe’s condor restoration work visit  www.yuroktribe.org/yurok-condor-restoration-program .  

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The California Condor Recovery Program is a multi-entity effort, led by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service working to establish self-sustaining condor populations within the historical range. The program includes addressing threats to the species in the wild; captive breeding; and reintroduction at field sites, like the Northern California Condor Restoration Program. In addition, the program raises awareness about condors and how the public can help support them through individual actions, like making the switch to lead-free ammunition.