A Better Way to Kill

Environmentalists have ramped up their campaign to ban lead bullets — because rare California condors are feasting on dead animals and dying from eating lead ammo. Hunters, Native Americans and conservationists filed suit against state regulators last week after scientists reported 46 of the 127 condors released in California were likely killed by lead poisoning.

According to the Natural Resources Defense Council and other environmentalists, "condors are exposed to lead when they encounter carcasses or the remains of animals cleaned by hunters in the field.... Condors also can mistake bullet fragments for the calcium-rich bone they require."

The California Fish and Game Commission is scheduled to tackle hunting regulations in February, but an Internet campaign is already brewing to pressure Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to help get the lead out. The campaign to use copper and other non-lead bullets is putting environmentalists in the position of siding with hunters to find better ways to kill.

"I know from experience that these bullets are safe and ballistically outperform bullets made from lead," said hunter Anthony Prieto, a plaintiff in the case. I guess some animals are better than others. Ah, the circle of life.

(Photo: Ben Margot / AP)