Black vultures are scavenging birds that feed mainly on carrion. While they will eat dead deer, they do not typically hunt and kill live deer themselves. However, there are some exceptions when black vultures may go after weaker or injured deer, especially fawns.
Black Vulture Diet
The primary food source for black vultures is carrion or dead and decaying animals. They have a keen sense of smell that allows them to detect gasses produced by decomposition from up to a mile away. Once they find a carcass, black vultures use their sharp, hooked bills to tear open tough hides and get to the meat inside.
Common prey items include:
- Dead mammals – deer, raccoons, rabbits, livestock, rodents
- Dead birds
- Reptiles – snakes and turtles
- Fish
- Insects
- Garbage near urban areas
Black vultures will occasionally hunt live prey but they mainly target animals that are already weak, sick, or injured. They do not have the larger talons of other raptors that allow them to swiftly kill prey.
Do Black Vultures Attack Healthy Deer?
Healthy adult deer are generally too large and aggressive for black vultures to successfully attack and kill. However, deer fawns or adult deer that are sick, injured, or otherwise weakened are at higher risk of falling prey to black vultures.
Here are some examples of when black vultures may go after live deer:
- Newborn fawns – Fawns are vulnerable in their first weeks of life and black vultures may take advantage.
- Deer weakened by disease – Deer suffering from chronic wasting disease or other illnesses are more easily overwhelmed.
- Injured or disabled deer – Deer hit by cars or caught in fences are easier targets.
- Deer giving birth – Does are vulnerable and distracted while giving birth.
- Deer exhausted from fleeing a predator – Deer running from coyotes or dogs may collapse, allowing vultures access.
In most cases, black vultures need the deer to already be in a weakened state before they will attack. But if given the opportunity, they can and will kill vulnerable deer.
Black Vulture Hunting Behavior
Black vultures generally do not hunt in coordinated packs like some other predators. They are opportunistic scavengers rather than strategic hunters. But they can attack in groups if an easy meal presents itself.
Some black vulture behaviors when targeting live deer include:
- Circling above weakly or injured deer
- Landing near the deer and approaching on foot
- Pecking and nipping at the deer’s eyes, genitals, and anus
- Ripping open soft tissue once the deer is downed
- Calling loudly to attract other vultures once feeding begins
The vultures will essentially peck a vulnerable deer to death or eat it alive while it’s unable to fend them off. It’s a gruesome fate but part of the natural order.
Video Evidence
There are a few graphic videos floating around the internet showing groups of black vultures attacking live deer. While disturbing, these videos confirm that black vultures will eat both healthy and weakened deer given the chance.
Some examples include:
- A video from a Georgia farm showing over 100 black vultures swarming and killing a healthy adult deer.
- A home surveillance video capturing black vultures killing a newborn fawn in someone’s yard.
- Footage of black vultures pecking at a deer stuck in a fence until it collapses.
The evidence clearly shows that black vultures are opportunistic predators that will feed on deer when possible.
Preventing Vulture Attacks on Deer
While vulture attacks on deer may seem ruthless, the birds are simply filling an important ecological niche. As scavengers, they help clean up carrion that could otherwise spread bacteria and disease.
However, no one wants to witness the birds torturing deer. Here are some tips for preventing vulture attacks:
- Promptly bury or remove deer carcasses on your property so they don’t attract vultures.
- Use fencing, noise devices, or other deterrents to discourage vultures from gathering.
- Provide supplemental feeding of deer to improve their health and strength.
- Protect vulnerable fawns by keeping does away from vulture hotspots during fawning season.
- Quickly euthanize injured deer to prevent prolonged suffering.
While vultures play an important ecological role, no one wants to witness the disturbing attacks. With some prevention and deterrents, attacks on deer can be reduced.
Conclusion
Black vultures are scavengers that prefer to feed on carrion. Healthy adult deer are generally safe from the birds. However, black vultures can and will attack vulnerable, sick, or injured deer when given the opportunity. By improving deer health and properly disposing of carcasses, vulture attacks can be minimized. While gruesome, vultures help control disease spread by cleaning up decaying animals.