Know how to properly identify black vultures and your options for mitigating their impact to your operation.
Learn more about reimbursement for livestock lost to black vultures.
Black vultures and turkey vultures both reside in Missouri. Unlike the less-aggressive turkey vulture, black vultures are known to cause problems for livestock producers. Learn how to properly identify a vulture below.
Permits are free, easy to obtain, and good for up to 10 takes. Most can be completed electronically for a quick turnaround. Contact Missouri Farm Bureau to begin the process.
Anyone who completed an application in 2023 will need to submit a new application in 2024.
Black vultures are federally protected and cannot be taken without a permit.
For more information on the application and approval process, click here.
Apply to the Livestock Indemnity Program through your local USDA Farm Service Agency office for the cost of the animal. Payment rates vary by species and age of the animal.
The Missouri Department of Agriculture has a black vulture necropsy reimbursement process in place to help producers who have lost livestock due to black vultures.
The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is partnering with the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on a multi-year study to better mediate conflicts with black vultures. The purpose of the study is to better understand black vulture movements, human-black vulture conflict, and to test vulture management tools. Landowners, cattle ranchers, bird watchers, and others may contribute to the study by reporting sightings of black vultures, or takes of black vultures, with cattle ear tags on their right wings.
In an effort to track black vultures and test management tools, 89 black vultures near the Missouri-Arkansas border were captured in the spring of 2024 and equipped with a white cattle ear tag on their right wing. Each tag has a letter and number (i.e., A47 or C20). The tags may be visible from below while the birds are flying, or while birds are perched. Twenty-eight vultures were also equipped with radio transmitters to study migration patterns and use of airspace, such as how far they travel, how high they fly, or how many roosts they use per season.
All sightings, or takes, of tagged birds should be emailed to USDA Wildlife Biologist Eric A. Tillman at Eric.A.Tillman@usda.gov or reported to the United States Geological Survey’s Bird Banding Lab online at reportband.gov.
Organizations at the state and federal level are working together to provide resources to farmers whose livestock operations are being impacted by black vultures. Click on an organization to learn more about their efforts.
agriculture.mo.gov
