OSU Sheep Team

Tim Fine, 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:

1. 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…”
2. 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, log onto http://www.aphis.usda.gov/ws/statereports/NJ/vulturenj.pdf
3. 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 at (614) 861-6087 to initiate the application process.
4. 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.