VENTANA WILDLIFE SOCIETY
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Wassak (968) was one of the more dominant birds of his cohort and stood his ground against any challengers. Wassak meaning “condor” was selected as this bird's nickname by the local Rumsen Tribe. There was no doubt that Wassak (968) could hold his own, but he could also be a gentle bird, often choosing peace and food-sharing over aggressive fighting and bullying. He seemed to have a soft spot for the less dominant birds of the group and always allowed them to eat next to him.

On December 22, 2022, Pinnacles National Park staff trapped Wassak (968) after he was observed exhibiting lethargic behavior, a symptom of lead poisoning. VWS Condor Crew member, Evan McWreath, rushed him to LA Zoo where their veterinary team did all they could to bring him back to health. On January 5, 2023, Wassak (968) succumbed to lead sickness from foraging on a carcass that was shot with lead ammunition. ​He passed in the arms of one of his care givers. We would like to thank Pinnacles National Park, Evan McWreath and LA Zoo for doing all they could to try and save this bird during his final hours. ​
Pronounced: WAHS-awk (final sound ends abruptly)
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ventana wildlife society

9699 Blue Larkspur Lane, Ste 105
Monterey, CA 93940

(831) 455-9514 | fax (831) 455-2846
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Ventana Wildlife Society is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization | Federal EIN 94-2795935
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  • WHO WE ARE
    • Annual Reports / Documents
    • Bald Eagles - Our Beginning
    • Board of Directors
    • Contact Us
    • Employment
    • Media Coverage
    • Our Story
    • Staff
    • Wildlife Sanctuaries
  • CONDORS
    • Artists Supporting Condors
    • Condor Biology
    • Condor Cams
    • Condor Field Work
    • Condor Releases
    • Condor Status
    • Condor Threats
    • My Condor Bios
    • Nesting Condors
    • The Condor Chat
    • Vultures of the World
  • Films and Shorts
    • Films >
      • Condor Canyon
      • Giants of Big Sur: California Condor Stories
      • The California Condors of Big Sur
    • Shorts >
      • Condor Nesting Videos
      • Short Videos
  • Education
    • Big Sur Discovery Center
    • Education Overview
    • Inspirational Youth
    • PARTNER PROGRAMS >
      • MWEE for Educators and Teens
      • Wellness Through Nature >
        • Salud Y Naturaleza
    • PUBLIC PROGRAMS >
      • Community Hubs
      • Youth Programs
    • S'MORE in Big Sur
  • Services
    • Condor Presentations
    • Ecological Services
    • Non-Lead Ammunition
    • Wildlife Data Management Tools
  • How You Can Help
    • Adopt-A-Condor
    • Annual Membership
    • Donate >
      • Donate
      • Donate to Condor Recovery
      • Donate to Youth Education
      • Leadership Circle
    • Fund-A-Student
    • Legacy Society
    • Subscribe
    • Supporters
    • Volunteer
    • Your Opinion Matters
  • Shop