Critically Endangered Bird Shot Dead in Colorado; Reward Offered to Wildlife Officers Searching for Poacher

MONTEZUMA, Colo. (KKTV) – Someone in Colorado murdered a critically endangered bird, and now a reward is being offered for information leading to the culprit.

A California condor was found dead in March, shot in a remote area of Montezuma County in southwestern Colorado.

“The California condor was discovered just 24 hours after it was killed,” Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) said in a news release last week. “… At this time, previous leads have not yielded results, so CPW and the (U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service) are asking the public for information about this incident and those responsible.”

There were fewer than two dozen California condors left in the wild in 1987. Thanks to extensive efforts to rehabilitate the population, that number has rebounded to 560, but the bird remains critically endangered and threatened not only by poachers but also by pathogens such as avian influenza, which killed some California condors in 2023.

More than half of the world’s California condors fly freely in Arizona, Utah, California and Mexico. Montezuma County shares a border with Utah and Arizona, though experts say the bird rarely crosses into Colorado.

Because California condors are protected under the Endangered Species Act, it is illegal for anyone to harass, harm, pursue, hunt, shoot, injure, kill, trap, capture or collect the bird. CPW said those involved in poaching the bird in March could face felony charges, which could cost them up to $5,000 in fines and up to five years in prison.

The Center for Biological Diversity is offering a $15,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction in this case.

“It is extremely important that justice be served when an endangered animal like this irreplaceable California condor is senselessly killed,” said Tara Zuardo, a senior attorney with the Center. “Someone must have seen something. They should step up and do the right thing by reporting this killing.”

California condors are one of the largest land birds in North America, with a wingspan of nearly 10 feet (3 meters). They mate for life and can live up to 60 years.

Anyone with information about the March shooting can submit tips to CPW or USFWS:

Colorado Parks and Wildlife: Colorado Operation Game Thief (OGT) Hotline: 1-877-COLO-OGT (1-877-265-6648) Email: [email protected] Website: Submit a Tip
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: Hotline: 844-397-8477 Website: Submit Information