There's an amazing story in the Sunday Olympian here about the attack of
a large number of vultures on live prey..particularly, new born calves.
the only thing I can figure is there must be lots of after-birth and
smelly attractants. The story is difficult to believe with phrases like..
"I've counted about 100 going at a cow,"said Frizzell, who has had 10
calves killed this year by the bald-headed, flesh-eating
birds...Frizzell and other farmers..are plagued by what wildlife
officials are calling one of the largest flocks of vultures ever seen east
of the Mississippi River. Between 1500 and 3000 of the migratory birds
nest in a thicket at the nearby Radford Army Ammunition Plant and spend
their days preying on animals. Farmers estimate..vultures have killed
more than 90 animals in the last three months..shooting a black vulture
can bring a fine of $5,000 and 6 months in jail..farmers have taken to
driving their tractors at full speed at the vultures closing in on
cattle. Others have set off fireworks, thrown rocks at birds and fired
shotguns filled with blanks..

This story really looks like some kind of urban legend. Anybody ever
hear of this behavior in vultures before? (excuse me if this is an old
thread..I'd just not seen this information in print before)

Tom

Tom Foote footet at elwha.evergreen.edu
The Evergreen State College 866-6000 x6118
Olympia, WA 98505