Subject: Re: Pocket gophers (was 48)
Date: Nov 9 15:07:57 1995
From: David Wright - dwright at u.washington.edu


On Thu, 9 Nov 1995, Steven G. Herman wrote:
> Let's just be very clear about the fact that habitat loss was not what
> extirpated the wild California Condor. *That* extirpation was effected
> by those allegedly committed to "saving the condor". Before they were
> all caged and put in hatcheries, California Condors occupied some of the
> wildest country left in California, and they were reproducing at maximum
> potential for the small population that remained.

I agree it was unwise to capture all surviving individuals, but what
reduced the population to such a low level that all remaining
individuals could be captured? That is what is ultimately culpable;
was it something other than loss or degradation of habitat?

David Wright
dwright at u.washington.edu