Know Before You Act

Vultures are migratory birds protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, 

State laws, and regulations. They are managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 

Service (part of the U.S. Department of the Interior) and State wildlife 

agencies. The birds, their nests, and eggs cannot be killed or destroyed 

without a Migratory Bird Depredation Permit. Individual States and localities 

may have further restrictions on vulture management. For more specific 

local information, consult with Wildlife Services staff in your State. You can 

reach our State offices at 1-866-4USDA-WS (1-866-487-3297).

Types of Vultures

Two different vulture species are native to North America: black vultures 

and turkey vultures. These scavengers play an important role in the 

ecosystem, feeding mostly on carrion, or already-dead animals. Physical 

features of the birds are useful in their role as scavengers: bald heads, 

sharp beaks, sharp nails, and highly acidic stomach liquids and urine. The 

latter contributes to damage issues; as a defense, the birds regurgitate a 

reeking and corrosive vomit. The uric acid kills bacteria on a bird’s legs, 

but it can also be corrosive. Sharp nails and beaks are highly destructive to 

synthetic surfaces. 

Populations of both species have increased in abundance and range in the 

past 30 years and may continue to do so into the future. Vultures often form 

large roosts and loafing areas, numbering from a few dozen to hundreds of 

individual birds. 

Vultures have an adaptable nature and show complex behavior. Those 

traits, combined with their increasing populations and proximity to humans, 

contribute to a wide range of conflicts between vultures and people. These 

Factsheet

August 2016

Managing Vulture Damage

Wildlife Services, a program 

within the U.S. Department 

of Agriculture’s (USDA) 

Animal and Plant Health 

Inspection Service (APHIS), 

provides Federal leadership 

and expertise in managing 

conflicts between people 

and wildlife to help protect 

the Nation’s agricultural and 

natural resources, property 

and infrastructure, and public 

health and safety. 

If you are having problems 

with vulture damage, our 

biologists can help by providing 

information and advice or 

working onsite to reduce 

damage. We also conduct 

research to develop new 

methods for resolving these 

conflicts. 

Vultures have an adaptable 

nature and show complex 

behavior. Combined with 

increasing populations, this 

leads to a wide range of 

conflicts. 

Animal and Plant Health 

Inspection Service

Wildlife Services
can occur in agricultural settings, as well as suburban 

and urban areas. Wildlife Services works closely with 

farmers, homeowners, State and local governments, 

and industries to resolve such conflicts. 

Conflicts With People

Property Damage. Large groups of vultures may roost or 

occupy woodlots near homes and can be destructive. 

Black vultures often damage homes and commercial 

buildings by tearing window caulking, roof shingles, 

vent seals, rubber roof liners, and pool covers. They 

can damage vehicles by scratching paint, removing 

rubber seals and wipers, and ripping vinyl seat covers 

from boats and tractors. 

Both black and turkey vultures also affect quality 

of life for area residents. The birds’ feces and vomit 

can accumulate, especially on roofs of houses, office 

buildings, communication towers, and electrical 

transmission structures. When this happens on 

electrical transmission towers, arcing and power 

outages may occur, at great expense to utility 

companies.

Agricultural Damage. Both turkey and black vultures 

normally feed on animal carcasses. Black vultures, 

however, may also attack and kill calves, lambs, piglets, 

and other weak animals. This predatory behavior often 

results in serious injury to livestock, as vultures target 

the eyes and soft tissues. In most cases, affected 

domestic animals must be euthanized due to the extent 

of their injuries.

Health and Safety Concerns. Accumulations of guano 

(manure) as well as vulture roosting and soaring 

behaviors create health and safety concerns. Droppings 

near homes and drinking water sources may pose 

health concerns for individuals and municipalities. 

Many people find offensive the white-wash effect of 

vulture droppings and associated ammonia odors. 

Additionally, concentrated vulture populations can be 

hazardous to aircraft, especially when close to airport 

flight paths, because of the birds’ characteristic soaring 

behavior. This behavior increases their chances of 

being struck by low-flying aircraft.

How We Can Help

Vulture management is complicated and site-specific, 

so consulting with a wildlife professional is vital to 

successfully resolving damage. 

Our Wildlife Services staff can help in many ways. This 

may include giving information on habitat management 

or strategies and tools for dispersing vultures from 

Vulture management is complicated and site-specific, so consulting with a 

wildlife professional is vital to successfully resolving damage.

The turkey vulture (left) is the larger 

of the two species, weighing about 4 

pounds with a 6-foot wingspan. The 

adult’s featherless, bright red head is 

distinctive, and the body feathers are 

mostly dark brown/black. 

The black vulture (right) weighs less 

than 4 pounds with a wingspan of 

less than 5 feet. It is mostly black.
areas of conflict. Our biologists can document vulture 

damage and start the depredation permit application 

process when necessary. In some cases, we may enter 

into cooperative service agreements to resolve these 

conflicts in the field.

We can also evaluate the damage situation and possible 

techniques for resolving the specific problems at hand. 

For example, sound- and light-devices (i.e., propane 

cannons or pyrotechnics and lasers) may be used to 

disperse the vultures, especially at the roost location as 

birds return to settle for the night. A vulture effigy, hung 

correctly, will often scatter a roost. Obvious attractants, 

such as open garbage, can be removed or enclosed, 

although the source of a site’s attraction can be unclear. 

In some situations, selective, lethal removal of birds 

may be needed to resolve damage effectively. 

Science-Based Solutions

Wildlife Services’ National Wildlife Research Center 

(NWRC) conducts research on a wide variety of wildlife 

damage issues. Scientists at the NWRC’s Florida field 

station carry out studies to better understand vulture 

ecology and behavior and to develop strategies that 

help minimize property damage, protect agriculture, 

and relieve health and safety concerns caused by 

vultures.

Learn More

For more information about managing vulture damage, 

or other Wildlife Services operations, call your State 

office at 1-866-4USDA-WS (1-866-487-3297) or visit 

our Web site at www.aphis.usda.gov/wildlife-damage.

Wildlife Services is not the only source of wildlife damage management services available to the public. Private-sector wildlife damage management providers may 

also be available. Wildlife Services does not endorse or recommend any specific private-sector provider or the use of any specific product over another.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

APHIS 11-15-004

Integrated techniques for resolving conflicts with 

vultures may include using real or constructed 

effigies/models.