Southern California developer seeks permit to kill condors

[Shaun]

The greed involved with Corp America -- but I can say one thing is coming true with PRK's rate of construction they will not have one shred of open land for people to enjoy -- there truly is going to be nothing other than roof's from the shore to the border. It really makes me thankful that I am in the country. I have had turkey vultures in my backyard and they do serve a purpose --I don't have a snake problem or a rodent problem --of course I also get golden eagles

Southern California developer seeks permit to kill condors
The Associated Press
Last Updated 8:44 am PDT Tuesday, July 13, 2004
FRAZIER PARK, Calif. (AP) - A company that wants to build 23,000 homes in the Tehachapi Mountains has applied for a federal permit allowing it to kill endangered California condors that may wander into the area.
The Tejon Ranch Co. says it has no desire to slaughter the rare vultures but an "incidental take" permit allowing the developer to "harm, harass, trap, shoot or kill" them would protect the company if birds are injured during or after construction.

The permit is required under a habitat conservation plan for the ranch north of Los Angeles that the company is jointly preparing with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

"The misconception is that this permit would allow for the killing of the bird," said Rick Farris, a wildlife service division chief in Ventura. "What this permit does is allow them to conduct their lawful activities and assure that what they're doing is not going to cause the extinction of the species."

A public meeting on the issue was scheduled Tuesday in Frazier Park. The permit process could be completed by late this year, officials said.

Condors, the largest birds in North America with wingspans of up to 9 feet, were driven to near-extinction in the 1980s. All the remaining birds were captured for a breeding program.

The 25-year, $35 million effort has resulted in 99 condors currently living in the wild in California and neighboring states, with another 149 in captivity. The Tejon Ranch is a favorite feeding and resting spot for the birds.

The ranch has plans for a biologist to frighten away any birds that land on houses or backyards and also plans to avoid building homes on the high ridgelines that condors love.

"But there is the potential that condors will start hanging around the houses; they've done it in the past," Farris said. "When they do that we have to change their behavior. That may even involve removing them from the wild and putting them back in captivity."

"Although it wouldn't necessarily kill them, we're saying they would be ecologically dead in terms of their ability to contribute to the population," Farris said.

Environmental groups said they oppose the permit.

"Giving a permit to harass, harm or kill California condors really goes against all the work being done to turn around the fate of that species," said Kerri Camalo of Defenders of Wildlife, a national group.

"It seems an affront to the people who have spent so much time and taxpayers' money to keep this species from becoming extinct," she said. "Now we'd allow the few condors alive in the wild to be taken in the name of development."

"Actually, I'm a little concerned about this," said Jesse Grantham, interim coordinator of the government's condor recovery program.

"This is sort of a collision between wildlife and humans," he said. "How do we deal with an animal that can cover great distances and needs significant space to survive? The condor is a flagship species, and the flags are flying everywhere."

[Rufus Rhastus J]

"progress" marches on.....

[colt45]

lets just keep praying for the big one the birds will fly inland when the rest of the prk slips into the drink.

[Rufus Rhastus J]

I recall seeing some hawks, yes, i know, differant bird and smaller, flying here in the third world state of Florida. Amazing birds, I can only imagine what the Condor m,ust look like in flight!