As if drought, poor quality forage, cattle diseases and parasites aren’t enough, some Midwest cow-calf producers are dealing with the black vulture, a federally protected bird that has a reputation for killing newborn livestock. The scavengers have expanded their range northward into Illinois, Indiana and Missouri over the past decade.
Source: KCUR 89.3, NPR, August 21, 2023. Link. Audio (4:35) The sooty-black birds have a five-foot wing span and weigh about five pounds. They’re related to turkey vultures, which have distinct bright-red heads, but black vultures are known to be the bolder bird of the two.
Also see: Black Vultures test positive for Avian Influenza in Alabama, Outdoor Alabama, November 10, 2022. Link.