Roosting vultures on your roof can seem ominous. The vulture is perching on your roof because it senses an animal carcass nearby.
Turkey vultures and black vultures are the two species in the United States. Also known as buzzards, both raptor species have an important ecological role. They’re scavengers that feed mostly on carrion. Black vultures will exhibit predatory behavior towards wildlife and livestock.
These birds are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. If you have vultures flying around your house, you cannot shoot them. We helped a concrete manufacturer in South Carolina get rid of turkey vultures.
How to Get Rid of Vultures
In Orangeburg, South Carolina the Trutech team from Charleston helped a concert manufacturer with a vulture problem. Vultures were roosting at the top of the mine shaft. The buzzards’ droppings were damaging the equipment and creating an unsafe working environment.
Because the property has over 1750 acres, limiting a vulture’s food source is not feasible. We removed the ability for the vultures to roost on the ledges by installing shock track to keep the vultures from roosting.
Vulture Damage
Just because the raptors are protected doesn’t mean you need to let them live on your property.
Vultures have sharp claws and beaks. They can damage homes and commercial buildings by tearing window caulking, vent seals, and roof shingles.
Both species of vultures have highly acidic stomach liquids. As a defense, buzzards will vomit. The uric acid kills bacteria on the birds legs, but it reeks and is highly corrosive. The accumulation of droppings and vomit can damage your property and harm your health.
Electrical and communication towers are popular roosting spots. Vultures have caused arcing and power outages.
Vulture Deterrents
If you have vulture problem, there are ways to get rid of vultures. There are no effective chemical repellents for vultures. You’ll need to rely on habitat modifications and bird control exclusions.
Make your property less inviting to vultures by removing food sources and roosting areas. Pruning trees and cutting down dead trees remove roosting areas. Proper disposal of animal carcasses is a must. Farmer and ranchers especially need to quickly remove dead livestock and properly dispose of the carcass. Black vultures will prey upon livestock.
Harassments programs work to get rid of vultures. Harassments work by making the vultures feel unsafe or uncomfortable in an area. A vulture effigy, hung correctly, will often scatter a roost. Effigies work to scatter roosts and deter black vultures from livestock herds.
Loud noises and light deterrents work well at roost locations at night. Propane cannons, pyrotechnics, shell crackers, and lasers must be diligent, persistent, and diverse. The longer a communal roost has been establish, the harder it is to deter vultures.
