Black vultures are a common sight in many areas of the southern United States. With their dark plumage and bald heads, these scavenging birds stand out against the sky. Though often considered ugly and menacing, black vultures provide some benefits. But they also create problems in certain situations. Knowing more about black vulture behavior and ecology can help people coexist with these unique birds.
What are black vultures?
Black vultures (Coragyps atratus) are one of two vulture species found in most of the United States. (Turkey vultures are the other common species.) Black vultures range across the southeastern United States south to South America. They inhabit open country and forests.
These large birds have mostly black plumage, gray legs and feet, and bald grayish heads. Their wings are rounded with white wingtips seen in flight. Black vultures have a dark gray bill. They weigh 4 to 5 pounds and have a wingspan around 5 feet.
Black vultures do not build nests. They lay eggs directly on the ground, stumps, hollow logs, and caves. Nests are often in secluded, dark places. The female typically lays 2 eggs which hatch in 38 to 41 days. Chicks fledge at 2 to 3 months old. Black vultures mate for life.
These vultures are scavengers. They feast on carcasses of small and large dead animals. Their diet includes rodents, reptiles, fish, pigs, cattle, rabbits, deer, and more. They do not hunt live prey but will sometimes kill newborn farm animals.
Are black vultures protected?
Yes, black vultures are federally protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. This makes it illegal to harm or kill black vultures without a permit. Their nests and eggs are also protected from destruction or removal.
Black vultures experienced significant population declines in the mid-1900s. The banning of lead ammunition and DDT pesticide helped populations rebound. They are now thriving across their range.
Do black vultures spread disease?
Black vultures pose very little direct disease risk to humans. Their strong stomach acid kills most bacteria and viruses in decaying carcasses. This acts as a natural filter before disease organisms can spread.
Some studies found harmful E. coli bacteria in black vulture feces. But vultures themselves seem resistant to these pathogens. Proper handling and cooking of food and good hygiene minimize any disease transmission risk.
Why are black vultures good to have around?
Black vultures provide some important ecosystem services and benefits.
- They help control populations of potentially harmful scavengers like rodents and feral hogs at carcasses.
- Their scavenging helps prevent the spread of diseases from decaying animals.
- They help clean up roadkill and dead livestock.
- As native birds, they contribute to biodiversity.
- Vultures are valuable for scientific research on flight patterns, scavenger adaptation, and disease transmission.
Do black vultures kill livestock or pets?
Black vultures will not hunt down or kill healthy livestock or pets. They eat only carrion. But they can peck and kill vulnerable newborn farm animals.
There are no verified reports of black vultures attacking people. But their size means they can be dangerous if threatened.
Why are black vultures considered a nuisance?
While beneficial in many ways, these large and assertive birds cause problems in some cases:
- They damage property with feces and tearing at roofs, insulation, and elsewhere they perch.
- Congregating vultures are loud and messy near homes and farms.
- They disrupt outdoor events and activities.
- Vultures aggressively displace songbirds and other more desirable wildlife at feeding stations.
- They kill vulnerable livestock like newborn calves and lambs.
Their reliance on sight to find food makes vultures unafraid. They boldly approach people, vehicles, and buildings without hesitation.
How to discourage roosting black vultures
Here are some methods to make a property less attractive for congregating vultures:
- Remove food sources like small animal carcasses, pet food, and livestock afterbirth.
- Clear branches and perches near buildings.
- Install vulture effigies (fake vultures) to deter roosting.
- Reflect sunlight, lasers, or noisemakers at roosts.
- String wire or monofilament line above problem roosts.
- Drape insulation tarps or bird netting over building roosts.
- Use smell or taste repellents on potential perches.
Population harassment and removal has mixed success. Vultures quickly return and reestablish roosts. Eliminating food availability, exclusion, and repellents generally work better than lethal control.
How to keep vultures away from a specific area
Vultures zero in on easy food sources. Remove anything that may attract them to a particular area:
- Pick up fallen livestock feed like corn or hay.
- Cover or fence off compost piles.
- Clean up areas where birds congregate and perch.
- Close dumpster lids.
- Wrap and bury livestock carcasses promptly.
- Install a roof over feeding stations.
- Use bird netting over ponds or gardens when necessary.
Making the environment less hospitable goes a long way in diverting vulture activity elsewhere. Population harassment is only a temporary solution. Exclusion and repellents require constant upkeep but deter access to specific areas.
Will getting rid of vultures cause problems?
Killing or chasing away vultures rarely solves conflicts for long. Other vultures quickly move in to occupy the vacant feeding niche. Complete removal can also trigger unintended consequences:
- Other scavenger populations like rodents may increase.
- Disease risks go up without vultures disposing of carcasses.
- Removal programs are costly and require constant upkeep.
- It results in loss of a native species that fills an important ecological role.
Vulture controls often simply shift problems elsewhere rather than eliminating them. Non-lethal solutions like exclusion or relocating food attractants are longer lasting.
Key facts about black vultures:
- Native vulture species in most of the southern U.S.
- Scavengers that eat carrion and do not kill healthy animals.
- Federally protected migratory bird species.
- Can become a nuisance around homes and farms.
- Provide ecosystem services like cleaning up carcasses.
- Roosting and droppings can damage property.
- Remove food sources and perches to discourage problem birds.
- Exclusion and repellents are best long-term solutions.
- Valuable part of a healthy ecosystem despite downsides.
Conclusion
Black vultures are often considered ugly nuisances. But these native birds fill an important ecological niche. As scavengers, they help clean up carcasses and prevent disease outbreaks.
Vultures provide natural control of potentially harmful scavengers. And they contribute to biodiversity. But congregation, droppings, and aggression toward livestock are downsides.
The most effective long-term solutions involve modifying the environment. Remove food sources and perch sites. Use exclusion and repellents. Non-lethal harassment has only temporary effects. While problematic to some, black vultures have an overall positive impact on ecosystems they inhabit.