Black Vulture Relief Act of 2023

To authorize livestock producers and their employees to take black vultures to prevent death, injury, or destruction to livestock, and for other purposes. 1. Short title This Act may be cited as the Black Vulture Relief Act of 2023 2. Authorization for livestock producers and their employees to take certain black vultures (a) Definitions In this section: (1) Black vulture The term black vulture (2) Covered person The term covered person (A) a livestock producer; or (B) an employee of a livestock producer when the employee is actively engaged in livestock production. (3) Director The term Director (4) Livestock The term livestock 7 U.S.C. 1471 (5) Livestock producer The term livestock producer 7 U.S.C. 1471 (6) Take The term take (A) to capture, kill, or disperse a black vulture; or (B) to transport a black vulture carcass. (b) Authorization (1) In general Subject to paragraph (2), notwithstanding the Migratory Bird Treaty Act ( 16 U.S.C. 703 et seq. (A) take or attempt to take a black vulture that is causing, or that the covered person has a reasonable belief will cause, death, injury, or destruction to livestock; or (B) in the course of taking or attempting to take a black vulture described in subparagraph (A), cause injury to the black vulture. (2) Prohibition A covered person may not take or attempt to take a black vulture through the use of poison. (c) Reports (1) In general Not later than January 31 of each year, a covered person that takes a black vulture in accordance with subsection (b) in the preceding 12-month period shall complete and submit to the appropriate United States Fish and Wildlife Service Regional Office (as determined by the geographic jurisdictions described in section 2.2 of title 50, Code of Federal Regulations (or a successor regulation)) an annual report using the form developed by the Director under subsection (d). (2) Clarification A covered person shall not be required to submit a report under paragraph (1) until after the date on which the Director develops and makes available the reporting form under subsection (d). (d) Reporting forms (1) In general Subject to paragraph (2), not later than 180 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Director shall develop and make available on the website of the United States Fish and Wildlife Service a reporting form the Director determines appropriate for the purposes of accepting reports under subsection (c). (2) Format The form developed and made available under paragraph (1) may not be more onerous to complete than similar forms required for permitted take under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act ( 16 U.S.C. 703 et seq.

Summary: Black Vulture Relief Act of 2023 This bill allows livestock producers and their employees to take certain actions against black vultures to protect livestock. (Black vultures are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.) Specifically, livestock producers and their employees may (1) take (i.e., capture, kill, or disperse, or transport the carcass of) a black vulture that they reasonably believe will cause death, injury, or destruction to livestock; or (2) in the course of taking or attempting to take the black vulture, cause injury to the bird. However, they may not take or attempt to take a black vulture through the use of poison. Livestock producers and their employees must submit an annual report to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) on black vultures taken under this bill. The FWS must make this reporting form available on its website. Currently, the FWS has a permit process under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act for the taking of black vultures.