Experts issue warning after witnessing alarming vulture conduct in US: 'It is extremely disturbing'

Farmers in the Midwest are confronting an unexpected challenge as black vultures begin preying on livestock. Once absent from this region, these birds have expanded their territory due to rising temperatures.

Typically native to the southeastern United States and parts of Latin America, black vultures are now being spotted far north of their historical range. Reports indicate that milder winters, a result of global warming, have allowed these scavengers to survive in areas previously too cold for them. Additionally, human expansion has inadvertently increased available food sources, drawing the birds closer to farms.

Ohio farmer Tom Karr, near Pomeroy, described the shocking impact on vulnerable animals: "They just basically eat them alive. It is so disgusting." Similar incidents have been reported in Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia, and Indiana, where the birds target newborn calves during calving season.

Federal protection under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act complicates farmers' efforts to control the population. Special permits are required to lethally remove even a few vultures. Some farmers, like Allan Bryant from Eminence, Kentucky, have tried hanging deceased vultures as a deterrent, but the birds often return.

The financial stakes are significant. A single calf can be worth over $1,000, meaning losses can threaten the stability of small family farms already challenged by unpredictable weather and variable crop yields.

Despite their aggressiveness, black vultures provide a crucial ecological service by consuming carcasses, which helps prevent the spread of disease. Experts caution that indiscriminate killing could disrupt this balance and invite other scavengers that might be more harmful.

Andrew Farnsworth of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology noted that the birds are adapting to new food opportunities and that research shows they do not cause a large percentage of livestock deaths. "They are very good at taking advantage of food resources and remembering where those things are," he explained.

Proposals are underway to ease restrictions, allowing farmers to remove more black vultures legally. However, experts warn that broad culling could have unintended ecological consequences. Instead, they advocate for further research and safer deterrent strategies. Conservation efforts worldwide, such as The Bear Patrol in Spain and wildlife corridors in California and Colorado, aim to promote coexistence between humans and wildlife.

Ultimately, addressing the root causes of these behavioral shifts, particularly climate change driven by human activity, is key to ensuring safety for both people and animals.

Author: Sophia Brooks