Why are vultures in my yard?
Vultures are scavenging birds that feed on carrion – the carcasses of dead animals. Here are some common reasons why vultures may start showing up in your yard:
- There is a food source attracting them – This could be a dead animal like a squirrel or rabbit. Vultures have a keen sense of smell and can detect decaying carcasses from miles away.
- Your home provides good roosting spots – Vultures like to perch and roost in tall trees, dead snags, roofs, and other high up places that give them a good vantage point.
- You live near their normal habitat – If your property borders woods, cliffs, or other semi-wild areas, it may simply be part of the vulture’s normal range.
- They are more abundant in your area – Vulture populations have increased in many regions, leading to more frequent sightings around rural and suburban homes.
So in most cases, the presence of vultures indicates that there is a food source drawing them in. They may also be using trees or structures on your land for perching and nesting. Seeing vultures occasionally is normal, but repeated sightings of multiple birds likely means something is attracting them to your yard.
Are vultures dangerous?
Vultures get an unfair reputation as dirty, dangerous birds. In reality, turkey vultures and black vultures pose little direct threat to humans or pets. Here are some facts about vulture safety:
- Not aggressive – Vultures are timid by nature and prefer to avoid humans and pets.
- Do not hunt live prey – Vultures only eat carrion and cannot kill or attack living animals.
- Not carriers of disease – Vultures have very strong immune systems and are not common carriers of pathogens dangerous to humans.
- Not likely to attack pets – Stories of vultures attacking pets are highly exaggerated. The most they may do is hiss and regurgitate when threatened.
- Large wingspans – Their wingspans of 5-6 feet can make them appear more threatening than they are.
So while vultures may look imposing, they do not directly endanger people or pets. Their diet is limited to dead and decaying animals. The main risks vultures pose are indirect, such as potential damage to homes from droppings or nesting behaviors.
Health risks of vultures
While not directly dangerous themselves, large numbers of vultures in your yard can present some health risks:
- Histoplasmosis – Their droppings can contain spores of the fungal disease histoplasmosis. If inhaled, these spores can cause lung infections.
- Bacteria – Vulture droppings and regurgitated food contain bacteria like E. coli and Salmonella. Contact should be avoided.
- Parasites – Carcasses brought by vultures can contain parasites like roundworms, tapeworms, and fleas.
- Allergens – Dander and droppings may trigger allergic reactions in sensitive individuals if exposure is heavy.
To minimize these risks:
- Use respiratory protection when cleaning areas heavy with droppings.
- Clear away nests, roosts, and food remains promptly.
- Disinfect areas using a bleach solution to kill bacteria.
- Have someone with good immunity clean up rather than young children or elderly.
So while vultures themselves pose little physical threat, their presence in large concentrations can elevate risks of certain infectious diseases. Take precautions when cleaning areas where vultures congregate.
Legal status of vultures
In the United States, vultures are federally protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. This makes it illegal to harm, kill, or harass vultures without permission from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Here are some key facts about vulture legal status:
- Turkey vultures are protected – Along with all other vulture species, turkey vultures cannot be harmed.
- Eggs and nests protected – Vulture eggs and active nests cannot be disturbed or destroyed.
- No poisons allowed – Using poisons or toxins to kill vultures is prohibited.
- Harassment is illegal – Tactics meant to scare or flush vultures from roosts are not allowed.
- Permits needed for management – To take any legal action against problem vultures requires Federal permits.
These rules mean that while vultures can be a nuisance, there are limits on what control measures citizens can legally take. Non-lethal hazing or passive deterrence is normally allowed, but harassment is not. Before taking any action, check your state and local laws.
How to humanely get rid of vultures
Since vultures are federally protected, you cannot simply kill them or destroy their nests. Here are some legal, humane ways to encourage vultures to leave your property:
- Remove food attractants – Clean up any animal carcasses and garbage that may draw them in.
- Use effigies – Hang a fake dead vulture or owl effigy to frighten them from roosting.
- Reflective deterrents – Mylar balloons, pinwheels, and other shiny objects can help scare them away.
- Remove roosts – Cut away tree branches, block access to roofs, and remove other perches.
- Control smell – Use lime or ammonia-soaked rags around previously used roost areas.
- Active hazing – Wave arms, yell, spray water to encourage sitting or roosting vultures to move on.
The key is making your property less desirable to vultures by removing food sources and denying them attractive roosting sites. Consistent hazing helps teach them to go elsewhere. Combined, these humane harassment techniques can provide an effective solution over time without harming vultures.
Vulture deterrent products
There are many commercial vulture deterrent products available to aid in discouraging vultures from becoming established. Here are some of the most common and effective:
- Vulture effigies – Fake vulture corpses act as a fear threat to drive away live vultures.
- Predator effigies – Fake owls, coyotes, snakes and hawks can scare away vultures.
- Reflective tape – Flash tape, bird scare tape, and metallic ribbons startle vultures.
- Motion-activated sprinklers – Automatically spray roosting vultures with water.
- Electronic repellents – Emit sounds, ultrasonic noise, or flashing lights to deter vultures.
- Chemical repellents – Foul smelling sprays make areas unappetizing to vultures.
- Porcupine wire – Stainless steel spike strips prevent roosting on ledges and roof edges.
Look for products designed specifically for deterring vultures rather than general bird repellents. Effectiveness can vary based on the specific type of vultures, number of birds, and your property setup. Most work best as part of an integrated pest management plan that also modifies habitat.
Vulture control services
For large scale vulture problems or sensitive sites like businesses and schools, calling in professional vulture control services may be the best solution. Qualified companies have access to advanced techniques such as:
- Aerial hazing – Using drones, lasers or acoustics to disperse vulture roosts.
- Vulture relocation – Humane trapping and relocating habitual problem vultures.
- Roost access exclusion – Blocking attics, ledges, and other hard to reach areas to deny roosting.
- Population tracking – Using GPS trackers to monitor vulture movements and habits.
- Roost dispersal – Removing nests and vulture-friendly vegetation.
- Deterrent installation – Professional grade deterrent devices.
Licensed pest management professionals have a deeper knowledge of both vulture behavior and effective control methods. Their access to specialized tools like drones, high reach equipment, and trapping expertise can provide a more complete solution not feasible for the average property owner.
Vulture prevention tips
Here are some useful tips to help discourage vultures from frequenting your property in the first place:
- Remove food sources – Eliminate anything that could attract them like pet food, garbage, compost piles or roadkill.
- Close off access – Seal openings so vultures can’t enter attics, sheds, roof areas or crawl spaces.
- Trim vegetation – Remove tall trees and dense shrubs they could nest or roost in.
- Use noisemakers – Install motion-activated alarms, clackers or water scare cannons.
- Employ scare tactics – Fake snakes, owls and other decoys can help deter them from settling.
- Eliminate perches – Remove ledges, fence posts, wires and other preferred perching spots.
- Hang deterrents – Old CDs, balloons, wire spikes and reflective tape can make roosts less appealing.
Being proactive about vulture-proofing your yard and buildings makes it far less likely they’ll want to hang around. Combined with prompt humane hazing, addressing the root causes that draw vultures in provides the best prevention.
How to get rid of vulture smell
The foul stench left by vulture droppings and carcasses can seem nearly impossible to remove once it has penetrated an area. Here are the most effective methods for eliminating strong vulture odors:
- Find the source – Locate and remove all vulture feces, nesting materials, and food remains.
- Air circulation – Open windows, use fans, ventilate attics to let fresh air in.
- Baking soda – Liberally sprinkle sites with baking soda to help absorb odor.
- White vinegar – Spray full-strength vinegar as a deodorizer where droppings were heavy.
- Enzymatic cleaners – Use pet odor eliminators containing active enzymes to digest lingering proteins.
- Disinfectants – Scrub surfaces with hydrogen peroxide, bleach or ammonia solutions.
- Sealants – For porous areas like wood or concrete, apply odor sealing primers before repainting.
The more quickly and thoroughly you can remove the source of the smell and decontaminate, the better your chances of success. In severe cases, repeated cleanings or replacing insulation, carpets or other absorbent materials may be necessary. Calling a professional odor control service can also help.
Conclusion
While vultures serve an important role as nature’s cleanup crew, having them regularly visiting and roosting on your property can quickly become a nuisance. By removing anything that draws them in, modifying or blocking potential perches, and using consistent humane harassment techniques, you can convince unwanted vultures to seek easier pickings elsewhere. If the problem persists, don’t hesitate to contact a wildlife control professional for access to more advanced vulture deterrents and relocation techniques for safe, effective solutions.