An Official Website of the Commonwealth of Kentucky
Two types of vultures are found in Kentucky: The turkey vulture and the black vulture. Often called “buzzards,” these carrion-eating birds of prey play a crucial role in ecosystems by consuming carcasses and helping to prevent the spread of harmful viruses and bacteria.
Regulatory Status
Turkey and black vultures are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA), which prohibits killing, capturing, or selling these birds without authorization from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Having trouble identifying a vulture?Download this Nature Notebook about Kentucky's vultures from our Kentucky Afield Magazine.
Vultures play a vital role in maintaining a healthy ecosystem. However, conflicts between vultures and people can occur. Preventive measures can help manage these issues.
Both black and turkey vultures gather in large numbers in the fall, winter and early spring to sleep at night in areas called “communal roosts.” These roosts can sometimes form near homes or businesses, creating noise and mess from droppings.
While it's illegal to kill vultures without a permit, you can legally discourage them from roosting in unwanted areas. The key is to make the site feel unsafe, so they move elsewhere.
Contact local authorities before using noise or fireworks, and consider informing neighbors. Even after birds leave, they may return the next fall, so be ready to repeat the process if needed.
While turkey vultures do not feed on live prey, black vultures may sometimes target newborn or sick livestock. If Black Vultures are taking livestock, hazing methods—such as those listed above—can discourage them from the area.
Vultures typically depart by mid-March to return to their nesting areas. - Photo Credit: USFWS
The UK Department of Forestry and Natural Resources provides excellent guidance on handling vultures and mitigating the damage they cause. Download this publication on how you can create your own Black Vulture Effigy with just a few materials.
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The Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA) protects black vultures and turkey vultures. A federal depredation permit is required to capture or kill birds to help reduce damage to crops, livestock, private property, human health and safety, and protected wildlife. A depredation permit is intended to provide short-term relief for bird damage until long-term nonlethal measures can be implemented to eliminate or significantly reduce the problem.
Depredation permits are granted only after nonlethal deterrents, like hazing and habitat modification, have been unsuccessful. If a permit is issued, you will be expected to continue nonlethal measures in conjunction with any killing or trapping authorized.
USDA Animal Plant Health Inspection Service Kentucky and Tennessee State Wildlife OfficePhone: 615-736-5506
Migratory Bird Depredation Permit Process
USFWS | Migratory Bird - Depredation Permit
It’s important to note that livestock producers cannot be issued a depredation permit by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) and apply for and be approved for a KFB depredation sub-permit.
No-cost sub-permits are available through the Kentucky Farm Bureau (KFB) to livestock producers who are experiencing problems with vulture depredation at no cost. These permits are available to producers who are experiencing difficulties with vulture depredation of livestock. The number of permits is limited to 4 vultures.
Landowners experiencing severe problems with large flocks of vultures are encouraged to obtain their own federal permit through the federal process mentioned above.
The process for obtaining a sub-permit from the KFB is outlined in detail here. For questions about the KFB sub-permit process, contact Fran McCall at (502) 495-5000.