California condor poisoned by lead, not copper, when both are ingested: A case study

Abstract

AbstractLead poisoning from feeding on carcasses shot with lead‐based ammunition is a well‐known threat to wildlife. Thus, nonlead (e.g., copper‐based) ammunition is promoted as a safe alternative. We present a unique situation of a male California condor (Gymnogyps californianus) discovered with both a lead fragment and a copper bullet in his digestive tract simultaneously. We show that ingestion of a copper bullet did not result in elevated blood copper concentrations, while ingestion of a lead fragment contributed to lead toxicity. Our findings can inform nonlead ammunition outreach efforts by demonstrating that ingestion of a copper‐based bullet did not result in the poisoning of a California condor.