Strategies For Alleviating Vulture Damage In Industrial Plants

Authors

Edward R. Davis Jr., U.S. Department of Agriculture

Date of this Version

1998

Document Type

Article

Citation

Proceedings 18^th Vertebrate Pest Conference, ed. R.O. Baker & A.C. Crabb. Published at University of California, Davis, 1998.

Comments

Copyright 1998 by the authors

Abstract

Since 1985, USDA-APHIS-Wildlife Services (WS) personnel have received complaints concerning black vultures (Coragyps atratus) and turkey vultures (Cathartes aura) roosting at industrial facilities along the Texas gulf coast. The structures associated with these facilities are difficult for bird control personnel to access, and remote vulture roosting sites limit the effectiveness of many commonly used bird damage control methods. Methods attempted since 1985 include: capture and relocation, exclusion, harassment and shooting. In 1994, WS entered into a cooperative vulture control agreement with three chemical plants located in southeast Texas. WS personnel have developed an effective vulture damage management strategy that is currently used at six industrial sites in Texas.