Observations of a puma predation on endangered California condors: Implications for species recovery

Abstract

Reintroduction of endangered species is wrought with many challenges, but one often overlooked challenge is the threat of predation of naïve individuals. Individuals lacking the insight to avoid predators can become easy prey and even showcase predators capitalizing on the lack of anti-predator behavior. In California, California condors (Gymnogyps californianus) have slowly been recovering since the implementation of recovery actions and management. However, here we report an instance of where three California condors were preyed upon by a puma (Puma concolor) from 28 November to 30 December 2010 near Bitter Creek National Wildlife Refuge, Kern County, California, USA. The puma cached all three condor carcasses and was detected on a nearby camera trap revisiting the carcasses; scat was also identified nearby. This rare photographic documentation not only highlights the relatively unexplored ecological relationship between pumas and California condors but also showcases the need to understand the role predatory naïve behavior has on endangered species survivorship.