Kentucky livestock producers are facing a growing problem with black vultures attacking lambs, calves and poultry.
The predatory black vulture was once rare in the Bluegrass State, but now they’re much more common.
Black vultures are different than “turkey vultures” or “turkey buzzards” that feed on dead animals, especially “road kill.”
Black vultures are more aggressive and in the past few years, some Kentucky farmers have reported the birds attacking calves, lambs and poultry.
The Messenger-Inquirer reports that resolving the problem is complicated by the fact that a permit is required to kill a black vulture. Farmers can get that permit by documenting attacks by the birds.
The Kentucky Farm Bureau Federation issued 332 of those permits last year. A dozen of the permits went to livestock producers in Daviess, Ohio, Hancock, McLean and Muhlenberg counties.
