The black vulture (Coragyps atratus) is a common vulture species found throughout much of the eastern United States. As scavengers, black vultures play an important ecological role in cleaning up carrion and preventing the spread of diseases. However, black vultures are also known to prey on livestock and poultry, resulting in conflicts with farmers and ranchers. This has led to the establishment of allowable takes for black vultures in many eastern states.
An allowable take refers to the number of black vultures that can legally be killed in a particular state over a given time period. These takes are implemented and regulated at the state level, meaning allowable takes can vary widely across the eastern U.S. Generally, higher allowable takes exist in states with more significant agricultural industries and higher rates of black vulture-livestock conflicts.
Understanding current allowable take regulations can help farmers and wildlife managers reduce vulture damage while still supporting sustainable vulture populations. This article provides an overview of allowable black vulture takes in different eastern states, including recent changes and the rationale behind current take numbers. Geographic, agricultural, and wildlife population factors that influence allowable takes are also discussed.
Federal Protection of Black Vultures
At the federal level, black vultures receive legal protection under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918. This act makes it unlawful to pursue, hunt, take, capture, kill, possess, sell, purchase, barter, import, export, or transport any migratory bird or part, nest, or egg of a migratory bird without authorization from the Department of the Interior. As a native, migratory bird species, black vultures are protected under this act.
However, in recent decades, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has instituted depredation orders for black vultures that allow takes in certain situations. A depredation order allows the take of specific migratory bird species that pose threats to human interests without requiring permits from the Fish and Wildlife Service. Under these federal depredation orders, black vultures may be taken without permits when they are committing or about to commit depredations on livestock, agriculture crops, or other property.
Though the federal depredation orders remove permit requirements for taking black vultures, they do not override more restrictive state laws. The allowable takes analyzed in this article refer to additional state regulations beyond the federal depredation orders.
Southern and Mid-Atlantic States
Many southern and mid-Atlantic states have high allowable takes for black vultures due to significant poultry and livestock industries in these regions. These states also generally have large black vulture populations.
Virginia
Virginia allows a virtually unlimited take of black vultures when they are causing damage or about to cause damage. Landowners and tenants do not need a permit to kill unlimited numbers of black vultures under these conditions. This flexible take regulation reflects Virginia’s large cattle industry and high vulture populations.
North Carolina
North Carolina also permits the taking of unlimited black vultures when they are committing depredations on livestock, crops, or other property. No permit is required. The state also allows indirect takes, such as destroying vulture nests and eggs. North Carolina is one of the country’s top 10 egg producers, necessitating more flexible vulture take regulations.
South Carolina
South Carolina laws allow for the take of up to 100 black vultures per year by individual landowners without a permit. Vultures must be causing or about to cause damage to justify takes. The state requires permits for takes exceeding 100 birds annually. South Carolina ranks in the top 15 states for poultry production, likely contributing to the high allowable takes.
Delaware
In Delaware, landowners do not need a permit to kill an unlimited number of black vultures when the birds are damaging property, crops, livestock, or wildlife. The state also allows indirect takes like nest and egg destruction. Delaware’s poultry industry presence helps explain the state’s flexible vulture take policy.
Maryland
Maryland allows individual landowners to take up to 100 black vultures annually without a permit when the birds are committing depredations. Vultures may also be trapped and relocated under certain conditions. Maryland does not have a large commercial poultry or livestock sector compared to neighboring states. The lower allowable take may reflect smaller vulture-agriculture conflicts.
Northeastern States
Most northeastern states have relatively low allowable black vulture takes, likely linked to smaller agricultural industries and denser human populations in this region. However, takes increase where vulture conflicts have intensified in recent decades.
Massachusetts
Under Massachusetts law, landowners may only kill up to 10 black vultures annually without a permit. Vultures must be actively damaging property or agricultural animals. For takes up to 25 birds, landowners can apply for a special single use permit. The low allowable take reflects Massachusetts’ limited commercial animal agriculture operations.
Connecticut
Connecticut laws only allow the take of up to 10 black vultures per year by individual landowners when the birds are causing agricultural damage. Permit applications are required for takes above 10 vultures. Connecticut likely limits takes due to the state’s small agricultural industry and dense human population.
New York
The black vulture take allowance in New York depends on the region. In most areas, the annual take limit is 5 vultures without a permit when causing damage. But in parts of western New York where vulture conflicts have increased, landowners can take up to 10 birds a year without a permit. New York’s relatively high human population density may factor into the stricter vulture takes outside western New York.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania regulations allow individual landowners to take up to 25 black vultures per year without a permit across most of the state. In areas with more significant vulture damages, the take allowance increases to up to 50 vultures annually. Pennsylvania has a large commercial poultry industry and vulture take regulations respond to regions with more severe conflicts.
Midwestern States
Midwestern states generally have moderate allowable black vulture takes. Agriculture plays a significant economic role in this region, but vulture populations and conflicts have historically been lower than in eastern states. Recent increases in vultures have led some states to relax take regulations.
Ohio
Ohio allows landowners to kill up to 10 black vultures annually without a permit when the birds are actively damaging property or livestock. Ohio revised its law in 2021 to increase allowable takes beyond previous limits of 1 or 5 birds, reflecting growing vulture conflicts in the state. The expanded take regulation acknowledges the economic costs of vulture damage for the state’s agriculture industry.
Michigan
Michigan laws permit individual landowners to take 10 black vultures per year without a permit when the birds are causing damage. Farmers can apply for temporary permits to take up to 25 vultures annually during severe depredation situations. Though not a top agriculture state, vulture conflicts have risen in Michigan alongside increasing vulture populations.
Indiana
Indiana allows takes of up to 10 black vultures annually by landowners without a permit when the birds are damaging property or agriculture. Indiana’s take limit is designed to balance agriculture protection and sustainable vulture populations as numbers increase. The state is a top 20 producer of poultry, beef, and swine.
Illinois
Illinois laws allow takes of up to 5 black vultures per year by individual landowners without a permit during damaging situations. Agriculture plays a significant economic role in Illinois, but vulture takes remain relatively low. The state may raise take limits if conflicts intensify with further vulture population growth.
Factors Influencing Allowable Takes
Several key factors likely influence black vulture allowable take regulations across eastern states:
Agriculture Industry Significance
States with larger poultry, cattle, and crop agriculture sectors tend to have higher allowable takes to protect economic interests. More flexible regulations reduce burdens for farmers experiencing major vulture damages.
Vulture Population Size
Areas with greater black vulture populations and higher growth rates generally permit higher takes. Larger vulture populations increase odds of agriculture conflicts and justify higher take limits.
Recent Vulture Population Trends
Some states have increased allowable takes in response to surging vulture populations and damages. Growing vulture numbers and depredations have led to take limit revisions.
Degree of Vulture-Human Conflicts
Higher takes are permitted in regions with more frequent and severe vulture damage to agricultural operations. More flexible takes aim to mitigate costly conflicts.
State Conservation Priorities
More restrictive take regulations may reflect greater prioritization of vulture conservation over damage control. Some states balance takes with habitat protection to sustain vulture populations.
Recent and Proposed Changes to Allowable Takes
Several states have recently updated or are proposing new changes to black vulture take regulations:
– In 2021, Ohio increased its allowable take from 1 or 5 up to 10 vultures without a permit. This responded to burgeoning vulture populations and complaints.
– After a significant upsurge in vulture numbers and damages, New York updated its take allowance in western regions of the state to up to 10 birds annually in 2020.
– Kentucky wildlife officials are proposing to increase take limits from 1 vulture per year to up to 10 vultures annually to better control growing agricultural and property damage.
– Tennessee updated its black vulture take regulations in 2020, increasing allowable takes from 5 to up to 10 birds per year without a permit during damage situations.
– Maine‘s allowable take sits at 5 vultures currently but state wildlife agencies are considering increasing limits to 10 or 15 birds annually in response to rising vulture depredations.
Table of Allowable Takes by State
| State | Allowable Annual Take of Black Vultures Without Permit |
|---|---|
| Virginia | Unlimited |
| North Carolina | Unlimited |
| South Carolina | Up to 100 |
| Delaware | Unlimited |
| Maryland | Up to 100 |
| Massachusetts | Up to 10 |
| Connecticut | Up to 10 |
| New York | Up to 5-10 depending on region |
| Pennsylvania | Up to 25-50 depending on region |
| Ohio | Up to 10 |
| Michigan | Up to 10 |
| Indiana | Up to 10 |
| Illinois | Up to 5 |
Conclusion
Allowable takes for black vultures vary significantly across eastern states, ranging from unlimited in some areas to only 5 birds annually in others. Differences reflect the distinct agricultural industries, vulture populations, public attitudes, and wildlife priorities in each state. Most states permit higher takes when vultures are actively causing property or agricultural damage. Recent updates show takes increasing in areas facing growing vulture depredation issues. Carefully regulated take allowances help balance sustainable vulture populations with effective damage control for farmers and other affected groups. Understanding the policies and factors influencing take regulations provides important context for managing human-vulture conflicts. With vulture populations continuing to expand, additional take limit updates are likely across more states in coming years.
