Rescued turkey vulture released in Elkhorn Slough

A Turkey Vulture was released back into the wild at the Elkhorn Slough.

The large bird was rescued by the SPCA for Monterey County in early January. It was suffering from severe lead poisoning.

After a month of treatment the Turkey Vulture made a full recovery and was ready to head back into the wild.

Turkey Vultures are common in our area. They are large birds with bald, red heads and wingspans of 63-72 inches. They are often seen soaring overhead in groups, feeding off carrion, or sitting in exposed trees in the morning with their wings spread wide to warm themselves.

According to the SPCA for Monterey County, lead poisoning is seen in local rescued wildlife when an animal consumes a lead bullet while feeding off the carcass of an animal that was shot. It can also be seen when an animal is shot but survives.