[va-bird] Re: FW: Turkey Vulture Problems

  • From: Paula Sullivan <paula.sullivan2@xxxxxxxxxxx>
  • To: fas@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
  • Date: Tue, 16 May 2006 19:48:22 -0400

Cindy,

Cornell's Birds of American website says: "Almost exclusively a scavenger (Cathartes means “purifier”), this species (Turkey Vulture) rarely kills small animals or invertebrates. Nearly all reports of vultures killing livestock are attributable to the more aggressive, closely related Black Vulture (Coragyps atratus)......Feeds opportunistically on wide range of wild and domestic carrion"

Even Black Vultures depend "primarily on carrion, mostly large mammals. Occasionally consumes live prey."

I don't think you have anything to fear from Turkey Vultures even if they appear menacing.

Paula Sullivan
Alexandria


Subject: Turkey Vulture Problems

I am having many problems with turkey vultures. For the past month or so, I have not been able to leave my eleven pound Yorkshire Terrier in my fenced in yard for more than five minutes. As soon as I put my dog in the yard, turkey vultures circle and display aggressive behavior. Do you know of instances where pets have been attacked, hurt or worse?

Cindy Vasko

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