Endangered California Condor Illegally Poached in Colorado

Colorado Parks and Wildlife and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service are investigating an illegal poaching case that occurred in Colorado earlier this year.

In late March 2024, a California condor was found after it had been shot in a remote area in Montezuma County. The bird's body was discovered 24 hours after it was killed, in a location northeast of Lewis, Colorado, and west of McPhee Reservoir.

California condors are listed under the Endangered Species Act as critically endangered. By 1987, the population declined to just 22 individual condors left in the wild. 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.

CPW and the USFWS are asking the public for information regarding this incident. At this time, previous leads have not helped to determine who was responsible for this serious poaching crime.

The individuals 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.

RELATED: Red Fox Recovering After Being Shot By an Arrow in Colorado 

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. Unfortunately, this number declined in 2023 due to impacts from the highly pathogenic avian influenza.

Anyone with information regarding this incident is urged to come forward and assist with the investigation. If the submitted information leads to a successful prosecution of the responsible parties, a reward may be available. Tips can be submitted in the following ways:

• Colorado Parks and Wildlife:
  • Colorado Operation Game Thief (OGT) Hotline: 1-877-COLO-OGT (1-877-265-6648)
  • Email: game.thief@state.co.us
  • Website: Submit a Tip
• U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service:
  • Tip Line: 844-397-8477
  • Website: Submit a Tip

CPW and USFWS also assure that requests for confidentiality will be respected to protect those who come forward.