The Vultures

[TheLBLman]

Here's is a very interesting read about black vultures evolving into more aggressive raptors,
going for live animals as much as dead animals.

Figured the "Serious Deer" Forum is good a place as any,
considering many believe there is a link between buzzards and the spread of CWD.

The Vultures
https://www.courier-journal.com/story/n ... 505632001/

 

[Matador]

Interesting read. I don't doubt that this is happening. If it is ever proved that they help spread CWD, I don't know how that problem could be addressed without damaging the ecosystem.

 

[Mike Belt]

I never thought of them as aggressive until a small fawn was hit in the road in front of my house. About 9 or 10 vultures had drug it into the front yard to eat. When I walked out there to see what was going on whenever I got within 15 feet of them they'd start squalking and hopping towards me in an aggressive manner. I could still scare them away (temporarily) but each time they'd come back they did the same thing.

 

[TheLBLman]

I guess, just like "park bears" becoming less fearful of humans,
so is happening to raptors?

 

[woodyard]

I saw where TN Farm Bureau Federation has gotten a livestock protection depredations sub-permit from USFW service for these. Livestock farmers,can get a permit under the FB one to work on these that are threats to young livestock.

I am surprised that the gov would actually issue one and do it before they actually are causing a tremendous amount of losses. Someone must have a little common sense somewhere.-

 

[SKFOOTER]

LBLMan, do you think these Black Headed Vultures could be a feeding on wild turkeys?

 

[TheLBLman]

LBLMan, do you think these Black Headed Vultures could be a feeding on wild turkeys?

No.
I believe turkeys, even young poults would typically escape them.
These vultures are big, they are strong, but they are not fast (like hawks & eagles).

But I do believe they could be getting a few deer fawns,
and going for adult deer in the process of dying from CWD (or any other ailment).

I also believe all the raptors, but buzzards in particular, are a cause in the spread of CWD.
Not just because they are migratory, but their daily (non-migrating) hunting tactics can encompass multiple counties, with them excrementing CWD prions beyond the rut-range of CWD-infected "older" bucks.

Most CWD-infected deer are going to die in the wild, not be killed by human hunters.
Some kind of scavenger is going to eat these deer, then spread those prions per their excrement.
I can't think of any scavenger with more potential to spread them farther more often than buzzards.

 

[Hunter 257W]

I recall our neighbors, who raised hogs, claiming back in the 1980's or early 1990's that these buzzards were killing some of their young hogs. I never saw any real evidence that was happening but then never looked for it either. I do know that they had a big dead tree at the top of the hill that overlooked their hog pen and buzzards would sometimes fill that tree full watching the hog pen.

 

[TheLBLman]

Buzzards often "finish off" dying animals,
but sure appears they are now more frequently also killing any animal they can.

OK, nothing to do with buzzards, but certainly some implications to the spread of CWD per fecal droppings of prions!

This young fox has "STUNNED" scientist by taking a 2,000-mile journey in just 76 days!
That means it had to average over 26 linear miles daily to do this!
A "dispersing" young fox such as this could cross multiple states inside a couple weeks!

The scientist know this because this young fox was outfitted with a gps tracking collar.
The group think & consensus is the scientists are stunned.

Truly amazing dispersal . . . . . .
https://www.foxnews.com/science/arctic- ... ic-journey

The fox covered the 1,000-mile first leg of the journey in 21 days.
That's averaging over 47 linear miles a day!
P.S. A fox will eat a dead deer, or about anything it can when it's hungry.

Meanwhile, we're focusing on "older" rutting bucks spreading CWD
by traveling 4 or 5 miles distance during the rut?