Quick Answer
Turkey vultures are scavengers that primarily eat dead and decaying animals. They do not typically attack live prey themselves. However, there are some rare exceptions where turkey vultures have been documented attacking small, weak, or vulnerable live animals. Overall, turkey vultures pose little threat to most live animals.
Turkey Vulture Diet and Hunting
Turkey vultures are new world vultures found throughout much of North and South America. They are large birds, with wingspans around 6 feet, and adults can weigh 4-5 pounds on average. Turkey vultures are scavengers, meaning they predominantly eat carrion – the carcasses of dead animals. Their diet consists mainly of these carcasses and they rarely hunt or kill live prey themselves. Some key facts about the turkey vulture’s diet and hunting behaviors:
- Feed mostly on the carcasses of dead mammals and birds. They find these carcasses by soaring high in the air and using their excellent sense of smell to detect gasses produced by decay.
- Play an important ecological role as nature’s clean-up crew, helping decompose carcasses and prevent the spread of diseases.
- Have lightweight, mostly bald heads – an adaptation to avoid getting brain infections when feeding inside rotting carcasses.
- Regurgitate foul-smelling stomach acids as a defense mechanism when threatened.
- Rarely attack or eat live prey. Lack the strong talons and sharp beak needed for hunting and killing.
- Occasionally feed on invertebrates like insects or worms encountered while scavenging.
- Sometimes compete with other scavengers like hawks, eagles, coyotes, and snakes for access to carcasses.
Overall, turkey vultures are highly specialized for scavenging and do not have the necessary adaptations for more active predation on live animals. They may opportunistically feed on smaller living animals that are already weak, vulnerable or dying, but they do not hunt mobile, healthy animals.
Exceptions When Turkey Vultures Attack Live Prey
While turkey vultures show little interest in hunting live prey under normal conditions, there are some exceptions where they have been documented attacking and killing vulnerable living animals. Some examples include:
Sick, Injured, or Dying Animals
Turkey vultures seem most likely to prey on animals that are already weak or debilitated in some way. This includes baby animals that have been abandoned by their mothers, injured or limping animals with limited mobility, or diseased animals. With their sharp beaks, turkey vultures can dispatch animals that are near death and unable to defend themselves.
Small Mammals and Birds
In some cases, turkey vultures have been seen killing and eating living small mammals and birds. Some documented examples include rats, mice, rabbits, squirrels, bats, and small passerines. While they may not actively hunt healthy adults, turkey vultures can sometimes overpower weaker juveniles and nestlings.
Turtles
Turkey vultures have also been observed flipping small turtles onto their backs and then pecking into the vulnerable underside to eat them while still alive. The thin shell on the plastron (bottom of the shell) can be penetrated by their sharp, hooked beaks.
Newborn Livestock
Young livestock like calves, lambs, and kids are occasionally attacked, especially if they are still wet and weak from birth or abandoned. The vultures peck into soft tissues like the eyes, tongue, and rectum. Newborns are generally only vulnerable in their first hours of life.
Live Prey | Documentation |
---|---|
Sick, dying animals | Reported occasionally attacking vulnerable prey like lame rabbits or weak nestlings. |
Small mammals | Observed preying on small rodents, bats, squirrels, etc. |
Turtles | Can flip small turtles over and peck into the soft shell on underside. |
Newborn livestock | May attack vulnerable newborn calves, lambs, and other livestock. |
Risk to Other Livestock and Pets
For most healthy adult animals, turkey vultures pose little predatory threat. Their tendency to scavenge rather than hunt their own food means most pets and livestock are safe from turkey vulture attacks. However, there are some circumstances where extra precautions may be needed:
- Newborn livestock that are still wet/weak from birth are at the highest risk and may need protection for the first few hours until they are dry, mobile, and under the mother’s care.
- Sick or injured animals that become separated from the herd are also at increased risk if unable to defend themselves.
- Small pets like cats, small dogs, rabbits, etc. could potentially be attacked if left unattended outside when vultures are present.
- Owners of small pets may want to supervise them and keep smaller animals indoors or in protected enclosures.
Overall, the risks are relatively low in most cases. But it is wise to be vigilant with vulnerable newborns or any weak, sick, or injured animals that could become an easy meal for lurking turkey vultures.
Defense Against Turkey Vultures
While turkey vulture attacks are uncommon, there are some deterrents that can be used to scare away vultures and prevent any harm to vulnerable animals:
Close Supervision
When newborn livestock are most vulnerable, extra supervision from owners can deter vultures from approaching. Just the presence of humans nearby typically scares away turkey vultures.
Enclosures & Shelters
For pets and smaller livestock, keeping them in protected enclosures or shelters is a good defense. Vultures cannot attack animals that are indoors or in closed barns/hutches.
Scare Devices
Motion-activated sprinklers, flashing lights, and sounds can startle vultures and make them less likely to land. Scarecrows are also sometimes effective.
Chemical Repellents
Non-toxic chemical repellents designed for nuisance birds can be sprayed around properties or directly on livestock. These give off scents/tastes to deter vultures from approaching.
Removal of Food Sources
Eliminating other food sources like open compost piles or livestock carcasses may encourage vultures to move on from an area rather than loitering and posing a threat.
Will Turkey Vultures Attack Humans?
There are no cases of turkey vultures directly attacking or preying on healthy adult humans. At most, aggressive turkey vultures may defend themselves or their nest by biting if a person gets too close. Their sharp beaks can potentially draw blood even from defensive biting. However, they do not see humans as normal food sources or intentionally attack people. Again, sick or helpless people unable to defend themselves could theoretically be vulnerable if left exposed, though there are no documented cases. Overall, turkey vultures pose little real danger to capable, healthy adults.
Conclusion
In most situations, turkey vultures are not prone to attacking live animals and primarily feed on dead carcasses. However, there are rare exceptions where turkey vultures have preyed on small, weak, vulnerable animals – particularly newborns, sick/dying animals, small pets, and helpless livestock separated from the herd. While attacks are uncommon, it is smart to take precautions like close supervision of vulnerable animals, proper enclosures, and deterrents when vultures are active around a property. Monitoring for circling vultures overhead can provide advance warning to take proactive protective measures. But for the vast majority of animals and people, turkey vultures do not pose a significant predatory threat. Their great ecological value as scavengers far outweighs the rare risk they may opportunistically nibble on a helpless animal.