One of the North Coast’s condors is in “delicate condition” and undergoing treatment for lead poisoning at the Sequoia Park Zoo after tests done during a biannual check of the flock showed A7 had high levels of the toxin.
According to a May 9 social media post by the Yurok Tribe — which is leading the effort to bring back the endangered bird they know as prey-go-neesh to ancestral tribal lands through the Northern California Condor Restoration Program in partnership with other agencies — the nearly 4-year-old female had lead levels “six times higher than the standard threshold for medical treatment.”
The announcement comes shortly after B7 — the youngest member of the North Coast flock — was found dead from lead poisoning in January, marking the first loss for the program since the birds were returned to the region in 2022 after more than a century of absence, although there have been several close calls in the ensuing years. (Read previous Journal stories about the NCCRP condors here and here.)
The Yurok Tribe post states A7 — also known by her Yurok name He-we-chek’ (“I am healthy/I get well”) — was immediately started on chelation therapy to remove the lead from her system before being taken to the Condor Care Center at the zoo.
“Chelation therapy involves injecting a substance that binds with the lead in a condor’s blood to allow them to pass it naturally,” the post says. “The condor is also given fluids to help the process. It is likely that A7 will be under medical care for several weeks. She is in delicate condition and visitors to the zoo will not be able to access the isolated treatment area.”
As the tribe notes, lead poisoning is the single greatest threat to condors, the apex scavengers known as nature’s cleanup crew, that play an important role in the ecosystem by helping clear large carcasses from the landscape, preventing the spread of disease.
“Almost all poisonings are linked to carrion from lead-shot game, livestock, and vermin,” post says. “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.”
Before the 17 birds now flying free were reintroduced, the Yurok Tribe spent nearly 20 years preparing for the return of prey-go-neesh, which included working extensively to educate local hunters about non-lead ammunition options. And, in 2019, California banned the use of lead ammunition for hunting.
None of the other condors in the cohort “tested positive for lead above the treatment threshold” during the twice-yearly check-ins, which allow NCCRP staff to do upclose exams on the birds and make sure the transmitters that track their movements fit well and are working correctly.
In addition, feather samples were taken for lab analysis to “help determine if the birds have historically been exposed to lead,” according to the Yurok Tribe.
For more information about the NCCRP, vist yuroktribe.org/yurok-condor-restoration-program.
This article appears in Summer of Fun 2025.
