Black Vultures Present New Challenge for Livestock Farmers
Livestock farmers across the United States are facing a new threat: black vultures preying on their newborn calves, lambs, and piglets. This issue has become a growing concern, as the population of black vultures has expanded northward into states like Missouri, Indiana, and Illinois over the last decade. Farmers are struggling to protect their herds and are facing financial losses and emotional distress due to the gruesome deaths of their animals.
Yancy Paul, a rancher from Lexington, Oklahoma, shared his horrifying experience of witnessing black vultures attacking a newborn calf. He described how they literally pick holes in the animals, starting with their eyes and backside before pecking holes in their guts. This kind of predation has become increasingly common, with ranchers in Oklahoma losing an estimated $200,000 worth of livestock each year.
It is unclear why black vultures are expanding their range northward, but experts speculate that milder winters and warmer weather are changing the birds’ behavior. This has resulted in increased food availability, allowing them to survive throughout the year in previously unaffected areas. Black vultures, which have a five-foot wingspan and weigh about five pounds, are known to be bolder than their turkey vulture counterparts.
Managing black vultures poses a challenge for farmers as the birds are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. This means that killing them without federal permission is illegal. Although depredation permits are available, they come with accountability and need to ensure sustainability. Sub-permits issued under the Black Vulture Livestock Protection program are free and allow farmers to kill up to five black vultures per year. One effective tactic is to hang the carcasses of killed black vultures as effigies, as the birds do not like being around their own dead.
Efforts to manage black vultures are essential, but experts emphasize the need for a balanced approach. Lethal tactics should be combined with non-lethal strategies such as moving herds closer to humans during calving season or using techniques like fireworks to scare off the vultures. By utilizing a combination of methods, farmers can effectively deter black vultures from their properties.
It is worth noting that black vultures play a vital role in the ecosystem as nature’s garbagemen. They help eliminate disease by feasting on carcasses, destroying pathogens such as rabies and tuberculosis. Vulture populations in other areas, like India, have declined significantly, resulting in an increase in diseases affecting humans.
As farmers in Oklahoma and other affected states prepare for the upcoming lambing season, their concerns about protecting their herds from black vultures remain high. While eradication is not the goal, the hope is to discourage the birds from targeting livestock in the area. Ultimately, the balance between protecting livestock and preserving the ecological services provided by black vultures is crucial, and farmers are working towards finding effective solutions to coexist with these migratory birds.
