Today we shine a little appreciation on the unsung heroes of the animal world.
The vulture.
They are definitely more vital than vile as Nature's most efficient 'clean up' crew. Preferring putrid flesh that most scavengers typically avoid, vultures can ingest diseased meat without any ill consequence due to their incredibly potent, pathogen neutralizing stomach acids. In other countries, a rise in rabies cases and contaminated water sources has been attributed to a lowered vulture population in the region due to hunting.
Due to highly acidic stomach acids (pH of 0), vultures can safely consume carcasses infected with rabies, hog cholera, botulism, and many other diseases that would be lethal to most other scavengers.
Vultures are considered ‘dead-end’ hosts because the disease does not spread further once consumed by the vulture. So if a vulture eats a diseased animal, the spread of the disease ends there because it will likely be neutralized by the vulture’s body. Ergo, the risk of the disease spreading from carcasses is relatively low with the presence of vultures.
California Condor's Amazing Comeback
California is so lucky to have the California condor (North America's largest flying bird) bounce back from the brink of extinction. With a wingspan of almost 10 ft, this massive bird was helpless to the toxins of lead bullets. In the 1980s, conservation groups launched an all-out effort to pull the California condor back from the brink of extinction. When fewer than 10 condors were left in the wild, the decision was made to bring them all in for captive breeding. In 1987, when the last wild bird was brought into captivity, there were only 27 condors left in the world.
The captive breeding programs were remarkably successful. Through the efforts of many organizations and individuals, the reintroduction of California condors began in 1992. By the end of the decade, the population had grown to 161 condors. Now their populations are estimated to be over 500.
California condors remain critically endangered. Though numbers have risen to around 300 animals, populations are still low, and many birds continue to fall victim to accidental death. Powerlines are a particular hazard for condors, and they fare better in areas where human population density is low.
Common vulture myths debunked
1. Do people become sick as a result of proximity to vultures?
Myth: Busted!
Research has not found any evidence that people become sick as a result of proximity to vultures. Here’s what we HAVE found:
Vultures eat and sterilize contaminated meat. In one study in which vultures were fed disease-causing organisms, including anthrax, it was found that most bacteria were killed in the vultures’ highly acidic stomachs. In the absence of vultures, rotting meat would be consumed by other creatures that many humans find undesirable, such as maggots and bacteria.
– Without vultures to efficiently remove large amounts of decaying meat, both air and groundwater would show increased contamination.
– Vulture poop is actually a sanitizer. After stepping in a carcass, vultures will often expel their waste, which is white and fluid, onto their legs. The uric acid kills any bacteria that they may have picked up from the dead animal.
2. Are people injured by vultures?
Myth: Busted!
We have NOT found any evidence that people are injured by vultures. Black Vultures have been known to attack weak, sick, or unprotected young birds and mammals. However, no healthy livestock has ever been documented being killed by a vulture.
3. Do people experience property damage as a result of living near a vulture roost?
Myth: Partly true.
– Black Vultures have been known to cause some damage – mostly by picking at caulking, or at rubber and vinyl on buildings and vehicles.
– Black and Turkey Vultures may leave feces and regurgitations on roofs or decks – just as many other birds deposit their waste. Vulture waste washes away quickly and easily with a hose and scrub brush.
Getting Rid of Vultures in your area:
– According to the USDA, one of the most effective ways to discourage vultures is simply to remove or enclose obvious attractants like open garbage.
– If after considering all the alternatives you still feel the need to drive vultures away with harassment techniques, there are non-lethal methods that are both effective and safe for everyone in the community – for example, motion-activated sprinklers.
For more information about vultures, visit IG handle @Ms.MalloryAdventures
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