Turkey vultures are large birds of prey that are common across much of North and South America. They are often seen circling in the sky, using their keen eyesight to spot carrion on the ground below. Turkey vultures fill an important ecological niche by cleaning up dead and decaying animals. However, they also have a reputation for being ugly, smelly, and creepy. So are turkey vultures good or bad? There are arguments on both sides.
The case for turkey vultures being good
They help prevent the spread of diseases
By quickly eating dead animals, turkey vultures help to prevent the spread of diseases like anthrax and rabies. Carrion left to rot can become infested with dangerous bacteria, viruses, and parasites. Turkey vultures help clean this up quickly before the diseases have a chance to infect other animals or contaminate water sources. Their strong stomach acid even kills many disease organisms as the carrion is digested.
They clean up the environment
Turkey vultures provide a free cleanup service by quickly disposing of dead animals that would otherwise be left to rot. Their efficient digestion leaves little mess behind. Without scavengers like turkey vultures, the countryside would be littered with decaying carcasses, bones, and putrid smells. Their appetite for carrion helps keep the environment clean.
They indicate areas of contamination
Since turkey vultures have such a good sense of smell, they will congregate anywhere there is dead flesh to eat. This means they also provide a useful service by indicating areas where there may be environmental contamination or disease outbreaks. If turkey vultures start circling over a certain area, it can alert authorities to investigate possible causes.
They have interesting adaptations
Turkey vultures have evolved several unique adaptations to their scavenging lifestyle:
- A bald, red head – This allows them to feed inside carcasses without getting their head feathers matted with blood and gore.
- Sharp, hooked beak – Perfect for tearing open tough hides and accessing meat.
- Strong stomach acid – Their digestive system can neutralize dangerous bacteria like anthrax.
- Keen eyesight – Turkey vultures can spot dead animals from impressive heights.
- An incredible sense of smell – They use smell to find fresh carcasses, even those hidden under brush or trees.
These adaptations make turkey vultures impressively well-suited to their ecological role as scavengers.
They are mostly harmless to humans
Turkey vultures generally avoid living prey. Their diet consists almost entirely of carrion. They do not typically attack livestock, pets, or living humans. In fact, turkey vultures tend to shy away from humans, retreating when approached. Their only defenses are vomiting foul smelling stomach contents, hissing, and biting. While not cuddly, turkey vultures are relatively harmless birds. Their presence indicates a clean-up service is at work.
The case for turkey vultures being bad
They look ugly and creepy
With their wrinkly red heads, turkey vultures look quite ugly to most people. Their slouching posture and tendency to lumber on the ground adds to their unappealing appearance. Turkey vultures are hunched over scavengers associated with death – an association that many find off-putting or creepy. Some people may not enjoy having these ominous looking birds circling overhead.
They can spread trash and excrement
While they eat carrion, turkey vultures do not always completely clean up the remains. They will scatter bits of rotting carcass, broken bones, and other debris around. Their acidic excrement can damage trees and structures. At roosting or nesting sites, accumulations of turkey vulture poop can be unwelcome.
They smell terrible
To aid their scavenging, turkey vultures have a phenomenal sense of smell. They can detect dead animals from great distances. However, this also means turkey vultures themselves emit a strong, pungent odor. Their vomit and excrement also smell extremely foul when threatened. Some people find this stench off-putting.
They can damage property
Turkey vultures commonly roost on manmade structures like barns, sheds, or roofs. Their droppings are acidic enough to damage vehicles, livestock equipment, and metal roofing. Vulture roosts will quickly become coated in their smelly excrement. Sometimes property owners resort to hassling or scaring vultures away to stop damage.
They may spread disease
While their stomach acid kills many pathogens, turkey vultures can potentially spread some diseases between carcasses by contaminated feet or beaks. Avian cholera and Newcastle disease have been detected in turkey vultures that fed on infected carcasses. However, turkey vultures do not seem a major transmitter of diseases damaging to humans or livestock.
Conclusions
On balance, the benefits turkey vultures provide seem to outweigh their drawbacks. While ugly and smelly, these efficient scavengers fill an important ecological role in cleaning up carrion and limiting diseases. Without vultures constantly patrolling the skies ready to cleanup newly dead animals, the spread of diseases would be worse and the environment messier. Their unique adaptations make turkey vultures extremely well-suited to their niche in the ecosystem.
The smell and appearance of turkey vultures may be unpleasant. However, this is a small price to pay for the benefits they provide. People should view the presence of turkey vultures as a sign of a healthy ecosystem with nature’s cleanup crew on duty. While turkey vultures may not be pretty or cuddly, these birds provide valuable ecological services.