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Since 1981 Liberty Wildlife has honed our skills and established best practice for wildlife in distress. Today the California condors in the Grand Canyon are at risk of Avian flu. But we are having success. On May 9, 2023, Liberty Wildlife successfully hatched a rescued California condor egg. This little girl (and so many other wildlife like her) are thriving thanks to our many supporters. Your gifts today helps these efforts. Thank you!

* Please note that your gift will be used for general care and maintenance for ALL wildlife treated at Liberty Wildlife, and is not restricted to any specific species or animal. 

Read More About the Latest Recovery Team Work with California Condors in Arizona

In cooperation with numerous state and federal organizations, Liberty Wildlife is working to save California condors from their latest threat -- Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI). 

In spring of 2023 a new threat was detected affecting the Southwest population of wild California condors in Arizona and Utah. Several birds were found deceased or highly compromised with a new illness - a bad strain of bird flu. For many years Liberty Wildlife has been the local wildlife hospital partnering with the Peregrine Fund, Arizona Game and Fish Department, and others to monitor and care for these endangered birds. When troubling signs began to show up, the call was made to bring birds to Phoenix for treatment. The initial situation was devastating--twenty-one birds have deceased to date, out of a flock of just over 100.  

Liberty Wildlife is experienced in caring for these largest of North American birds. Typically, the most common distress is due to lead poisoning. Birds are affected when feeding on gut piles left behind by hunters. This is normally a good food source, as the condors, like all vultures, help to prevent the spread of disease and clean up the remains of the carcasses. Unfortunately, if the animals have been killed with lead ammunition, the lead shot is also ingested by the scavengers, and the resulting toxicity in their blood causes paralysis of muscles, most notably in their crop, which prevents them from moving food along for digestion. It's a horrible situation -- the birds can continue to eat, while at the same time starving to death. Veterinarians and the care team at Liberty Wildlife are experienced in helping treat these animals through a process called chelation. Chelation binds the metals together and when successful, it helps to pass the toxic material from the body.

A new study being conducted by veterinarians at Liberty Wildlife is testing for toxicity levels from copper shot. This is believed to be less deadly for the California condors and has been promoted as an alternative to lead shot. This study will help assess just how effective this strategy might be. 

The most recent threat is different. Migratory birds like ducks and geese are carriers (often without symptoms) of a new strain of avian flu (HPAI). When they pass through or die during migration, other animals in the area (including the California condors in Arizona and Utah) can contract the disease. And these other birds have struggled to fight off the infection. Because the condors are social birds that often feed together, the virus can quickly be spread across the entire population. The disease has become a major concern both for wildlife and for domestic poultry and egg producers. This spring a team of organizations that monitor and care for the California condors came together to address the problem. Liberty Wildlife is the primary medical provider in this cooperative team for the Southwest flock. Several of the population were moved to Liberty Wildlife to be quarantined and monitored. Several other birds that were clearly infected were also transferred for care. Four are still receiving supportive care, with recent tests showing no remaining virus. 

One of the less fortunate birds was a female - Condor #316. She was found in the Grand Canyon in a highly compromised condition by the team from the Peregrine Fund who monitor the birds. After a short hospitalization at Liberty Wildlife, she unfortunately passed away. What happened next was unexpected. Her mate - Condor #680 - was found sitting a nest in a cave with an egg. The pair had mated before #316 passed, laying the egg between March 20th and 25th. The Peregrine Fund team members immediately shared the situation with the larger recovery team and a decision was made that he likely couldn't care for himself and the egg in an environment that might still have virus present. In fact, he could already be infected and compromised himself. The team then decided to take the egg and transfer it to Liberty Wildlife on April 17th, to attempt a difficult incubation in captivity. 

After weeks of care and a great deal of patience, this week the egg hatched! Liberty Wildlife has been feeding the chick using all our best practice techniques of camouflage and puppets so as to prevent the bird from becoming imprinted. She is eating and gaining weight. And the plan will be to transfer her to another partner that specializes in captive breeding of condors to raise the little bird further with condor foster parents. Eventually a goal would be to prepare the condor for release back into the wild near her dad and her flock in the Grand Canyon. 

When the fall migration begins again, the team of organizations, including Liberty Wildlife, will be ready to help and monitor for any additional issues. While the situation with the avian flu remains delicate, we are encouraged by these small successes like the new hatchling.