UK Extension helps livestock producers deter black vultures

They can be devastating to a beef cattle producer when they attack. Large swarms of black vultures seize the opportunity when a cow is giving birth and swoop in for the kill as the calf appears from the birth canal. It is a problem for beef producers all over the country but in Kentucky farmers are taking a stand against the large raptors. Effigies made from materials to resemble the birds and are being displayed by producers to protect the herds.

[@EASYTIGER10]

Why did the narrator speak over the guy just when he was telling us how he used the rubber vulture?? You had 2 people speaking at once. Unprofessional.

[@jeffreyonyx6860]

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[@sagealonso2028]

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[@jeffreyonyx6860]

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[@sagealonso2028]

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[@mariasommer8151]

Some place to find the pattern to make the fake bird?

[@brianjeffiers4283]

forestry.ca.uky.edu/vulture_help Go to the bottom right where it says "Vulture Publication".

[@craigoutdoors30]

Has this been tested vs a real dead one?

[@brianjeffiers4283]

I don't know of any research on this yet, but the main benefit of the rubber version one is that it lasts much longer and is much easier to get. A real effigy requires you to get a depredation permit and kill a black vulture, then hang it. After a fairly short time, it decomposes and is no longer usable.

[@Rattlerjake1]

@@brianjeffiers4283 - Remember, a dead vulture will decompose and SMELL!!!!! The odor of the carcass will attract, not deter them!

[@dihskursiv]

Is there a bird that kills vultures?

[@persephone2706]

Why, you wanna breed it til it overruns vultures and upsets the food chain?

[@Rattlerjake1]

The fact is that all of this hype is coming from farmers who are CLAIMING that vultures are killing their livestock. None of these reports or studies have actually found one incident of a vulture killing a healthy calf or cow. There are no videos or photos providing definitive proof. It's important to remember that if enough of these incidents are reported, the government will create a system of payment to compensate these farmers for their losses, which they will NOT do if the animal dies of natural causes. Instead of paying these farmers for losses, they should provide information on deterring predation, like guardian dogs or donkeys, of these effigies. American ranchers and farmers are always looking for ways to get the government to compensate them for losses, whether it is crops or livestock (think welfare)! But to answer you question, there are several predators that will kill and eat vultures, but that won't solve the problem. Vultures will often travel hundreds of miles daily, on thermals, searching for the odor of the dead. So you kill a few dozen and others will simply take their place.

[@grammydayao7581]

I could have killed one in my backyard today trying to get one of my chickens , free ranging might be over for my birds.

[@batladybeequeen6998]

Well, it's illegal to kill them so just make the effigy.

[@grammydayao7581]

@batladybeequeen6998 you can kill them if they are going after your birds it's legal .

[@batladybeequeen6998]

@grammydayao7581 with a permit or you couls face federal charges. That is a very important thing to note. The bigger picture is that an effigy will last longer and can be used proactively. In other words, you can put it up before there is a problem. This saves your bird and the vulture can serve another function in the ecosystem instead of bothering you.