According to a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service press release issued on October 24, the fires in California have destroyed thousands of acres of habitat at Hopper Mountain National Wildlife Refuge and San Diego National Wildlife Refuge. More than 70% of the vegetation at Hopper Mountain NWR was burned by the Ranch Fire (Hopper is home to the USFWS California condor recovery program) and more than 50% of vegetation and habitat was burned at the San Diego NWR by the Harris Fire.

The Hopper staff that evacuated had to leave behind condor isolation pens and three condor chicks in their remote nest sites. The chicks were equipped with radio transmitters for tracking. The USFWS reported the following regarding the chicks:

Radio transmission signals from transmitters affixed to two of the three chicks indicated that two chicks likely survived the fire. The fate of the third chick will not be known until refuge staff can visually inspect the nest site which is in a remote area of the refuge. All adult condor parents are alive and in the area of the nests.

You can read more about the California condor recovery program on the Hopper Mountain NWR website.

wildlife, wildlife refuge, conservation, endangered species, California condor