"It is not foolish at all to think that political activists and anti-hunters have infiltrated the Department of the Interior, USFS and State Fish and Game Departments."
Absolutely no argument from me.

Michael: I also agree. Lead fragments in carrion is the primary problem with condors in AZ; not lead paint and car batteries dumped out in the Arizona desert.
This 2007 study from AZ also documented lead pellets in the stomach of condors
https://www.biologicaldiversity.org...dors-and-lead-exposure-JWM-comentary.pdf

[Linked Image from photos.smugmug.com]

Lots of lead pellets are scattered around the countryside in SE AZ during Mearns season, but that is outside the condor's range

BTW: Avian flu (H5N1) hit the condors hard in Northern AZ & Southern Utah this spring. Carcasses were sent to the National Fish and Wildlife Forensics Laboratory, but I couldn't find a follow-up regarding lead levels of those killed by HPAI.
This was released today, but no mention of the autopsies or lead levels
https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/endangered-california-condors-get-bird-flu-vaccine/


I also agree that the agenda driven have clearly chosen to sacrifice eagles (and likely whales) to windfarms.