Tim Fine, OSU Extension Program Assistant, Miami County
In the previous Sheep Team Newsletter I discussed the steps that a producer must take in order to receive compensation if there was a loss due to a black vulture kill. In this issue I will discuss steps a producer can take to apply for a depredation permit and how to properly hang a vulture in effigy as a deterrent. To start off, let’s talk about the depredation permit process.
If you are experiencing problems with black vultures, here are some options:
- Understand that black vultures are federally protected birds under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918.Under this act, it states the following:“No person shall take, possess, barter, or offer for sale, purchase or barter any migratory bird, or the parts, nests, eggs of such bird…”
- Harassment may be an option.Harassment of black vultures does not require a permit unless the birds are found to be actively nesting.USDA APHIS has a fact sheet available that outlines some harassment options.For a fact sheet on black vultures, their habits, harassment techniques, and more.
- Producers in Ohio who are experiencing predation losses from black vultures may apply for a Federal Depredation Permit allowing for a very limited take of birds to reinforce harassment efforts. In Ohio, producers may also apply for a permit as a proactive measure to prevent predation to livestock if they have black vultures harassing their livestock. Typically a permit would cost $100, but the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife is funding the permit fees in these situations. Please contact USDA Wildlife Services to initiate the application process.
- After a permit has been obtained it is recommended to follow the “Guidelines For Using Effigies to Disperse Nuisance Vulture Roosts”. These guidelines are published in the next section of this newsletter.