FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. -- Environmental groups in Arizona are proposing a lawsuit against federal officials, saying they need to ban lead bullets that are killing California condors.
The Arizona Daily Sun reports three organizations are considering suing the U.S. Forest Service for not doing enough to protect condors from hunters' lead ammunition.
Jay Lininger, of the Center for Biological Diversity, says condors living on federal land cannot survive if there is a risk they will ingest lead.
Wildlife officials say about 22 California condors have died from lead poisoning in the last two decades.
Environmental advocates say the Forest Service is violating the Endangered Species Act.
A spokeswoman for Arizona Game and Fish, which tracks condor survival, says voluntary measures such as handing out free non-lead ammunition are helping.
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