John Warren
Will Ciccone was pretty sure it was an omen when he woke up a few months ago to find his yard completely covered with vultures.
"I thought it was a sign from God I was gonna die," he said. "I thought someone was playing a joke."
Seven months later, Ciccone's still around. Problem is, so are the vultures.
It might help if they were pretty. But the black vultures are the picture of what a diet of carrion will do for your looks.
The ugly isn't the problem. The vultures have destroyed three grill covers, a hot tub cover, a pool cover and numerous chair cushions at the Ciccones' home, near Elbow Road in Virginia Beach. The birds peck at roofing shingles. They defecate often and everywhere - the Ciccones' deck is a favorite target.
Vultures are not supposed to be dangerous to humans or other animals. That's l ittle comfort to the Ciccones, who don't invite friends over anymore.
Ciccone said he was told the vultures are federally protected, that he can't kill them.
"If you've got cockroach problems, you kill them. If you've got ant problems, you kill them," he said. "I've got this problem, but I can't do anything about it."
He's tried fake owls. The vultures perch on them. He tried a paintball gun and fishing line strategically strung. The birds adapted.
"We have tried everything at this point," Ciccone said.
The Warrior contacted the city of Virginia Beach and state and federal wildlife officials.
Virginia Beach Police Department spokeswoman Margie Long said the city will work with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries and the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services to "properly remove the vultures."
Though vultures - like most birds - are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, there are measures that can be taken to remove them.
Those include non lethal techniques, such as disturbing noises, fireworks and hanging an effigy of a dead vulture.
The problem, says Scott Barras, director of the USDA Wildlife Services program, is that the relief often doesn't last.
"They work well for the short-term," said Barras, who's based in Richmond. "But if there's not some specific threat in those techniques, they learn to ignore them."
That's why, often, federal officials get involved. They're the ones who can initiate lethal action.
As for why the birds picked the Ciccones' back yard, no one's sure. It probably has something to do with proximity to food sources and the area's wind currents.
Barras said the Ciccones' yard isn't likely the birds' roost. It's their "loafing" spot - they hang out at the Ciccones' place in the morning and early afternoon, before heading out on foraging runs at midday. Then they return to their roost.
Sure enough, when The Warrior visited Saturday, the birds were nowhere to be seen.
Barras said his department will visit the Ciccones, then consult with local officials about what can be done without breaking any laws.
Delicious
Digg
Reddit
Facebook
Google
Yahoo
I am not sure if they are still there,
But if they are reading this, I have known people to put those big blow up plastic animals in thier pools and it works great to keep the ducks out. I have also seen people go to the dollar store and use those metallic mylar balloons and the geese and ducks hate them. Try tying a few of them around the deck.
I'm with Ed Baskins on this one.
Turkey vultures or politicians...how do we make them go away. They both feed on decay and make a mess of everything. Maybe the vultures need direction to Richmond or DC so they can be with family and friends.
Tell them that you are a LIbertarian and they will go away...
How I hate election years...
There's a thing called a "mosquito"
that is a high powered sprinker attached to a motion detector. It was designed to scare off deer and other animals who like to munch on people's gardens. I was going to get one for the people who like to cut across my front yard, but my husband was concerned someone would lob a rock through our windows in retaliation.
Ridiculous
A family cannot enjoy their property because of enormous birds have taken "control" of their property? This is ludicrous.
Someone mentioned, “Better to ask for forgiveness than for permission.” Considering the incredible bureaucracy behind this simple problem, I would've taken care of this issue quickly with a shotgun. Ten or twelve protected birds won't kill the species and likely keep them away from inhabited property in the future.
This is environmental terrorism at its best...
He should hire a lawyer and
He should hire a lawyer and let the lawyer talk them into leaving as a matter of professional courtesy
In previous articles they
In previous articles they reported the fact that he has a federal permit to shoot some of them, but the city of Virginia Beach will not allow discharge of a firearm in the city limits. You would think Federal law would trump local law.....go figure.
I think he has a dog already, a Cocker Spaniel if I remember correctly.
sheesh!
And I thought I had a problem with canada geese
Dog might not be that great
I googled around for people with a similar problem and a dog doesn't sound like it's very effective. You end up with a vulture problem and a barking dog problem. They also ward off predators with rancid smelling vomit which probably wouldn't help the situation much either.
Have you tried moth balls???
My friend recently has vultures nesting in her storage shed and was told to spread moth balls around - and they worked like a charm! The vultures were gone in less than 24 hours and have not come back (she keeps moth balls out there all the time to ensure they do not return).
Control
I kind of like the motion sensor plan w/sprinklers. But, then again, they might like a little cool down when it hits 99 degrees. I'd go with a dog. I think a Jack Russell or two. They'll chase anything, forever. Of course, you are stuck throwing a tennis ball a million times after the birds leave. Maybe you could borrow some.
DOG!
Any kind of bird dog amd no more vultures!
"....looks like they are actually attracted to the owl!"
LOL! It does! Must be summer love.
Seriously. Get a big dog. Plenty of yard. But if Mr. Ciccone doesn't like cleaning up vulture poop, dog poop might not be his forte either.
Can anyone handle life issues without calling the government or the news media anymore???
By the picture it looks like
By the picture it looks like they are actually attracted to the owl!
another suggestion
Wire up a motion sensor to one of those water hose timers. When the motions sensor trips have it turn on one of those rotating sprinklers. Wash em away.....
Vultures Grilling!
I suggested to place the gas grill in the garage in-between useage.
I know the drill, let the unit cool before placing the grill in a closed storage area. The vultures do present a health hazard for the family.
Vultures are not know for their hygiene habits and they don't brush after
meals!
By the way has anyone thought of interviewing the vultures to find out why they like this gentleman's backyard? Why not get the vultures point of view!
cd's
One thing Mr. Ciccone may want to try is to string a bunch of bland cd-r's along a fishing line. I've seen this at various marina's and it seems to keep the gulls away. Perhaps it'll work with the vultures. At this point, what's he got to lose?
"blank cd-r's." Bland would work, I guess, if you're into Yanni or Enya or something, but what I meant was blank, with nothing written/printed on either side.
Mose
Grill in the garage? you have got to be kidding. You must be one of those people who keep their grill next to your vinyl siding and wonder why it is all melted now.....
Simple answer - get a dog
Paid service
I think the city sent them there to keep the streets clean. I think the money comes from the "storm water" fees. Or is it the lottery funds meant for "education?" I forget.
Join the club!
If you can't beat them.....join them. You can become a member of the Turkey Vulture Society for as little as $25 a year.
For more information, go to: http://vulturesociety.homestead.com
I noticed that, at that website, people can adopt a vulture for a gift of $100. Maybe you can consider putting them up for adoption?
Sorry that I'm not more sympathetic, but I've always kind of liked turkey vultures. They're an important element in nature; killing them does not help the planet.
The only vultures I have no use for are the ones in suits that try to sell me stocks, bonds, commodities, cars and houses.
Vultures, as hideous as they are, are part of the food chain.
Matter of fact they are an important part. They often eat dead animals (fish, squirrels, raccoons, wild dogs, road kill) that if left to rot often cause widespread disease outbreaks. Not that removing these birds from his yard would cause such a chain of events, but it opens the can of worms and then everyone with this problem in the US would remove them.
Case in point: The accidental Diclofenac poisoning has caused the vulture population in India and Pakistan to decline. This decline has led to hygiene problems in these parts of the world because carcasses rot, and or be eaten by rats or wild dogs, rather than be cleaned up by vultures. Which has been known to lead to rabies outbreaks. It's not the Vulture they are protecting, but the public.
Radio Station
You could tune it to Sean Hannity. But then instead of the vultures flying away, they would all die slow agonizing deaths. Then the government would arrest Mr. Ciccones for cruel and unusual punishment to a protected species.
The only problem...
....is that Mr. Ciccone told too many people about it. Much more gets accomplished when one may (potentially) have to ask forgiveness than for permission.
AM radio
Yes, AM talk radio will keep the vultures away. Tune in to Dr. Laura's program and the neighbors will stay away too.
Plastic Owls
I once had a problem with birds and sea gulls eating crumbs left on my back deck after a cookout. First solution to the problem by installing a plastic owl which moved with the prevailing winds. Secondly, I left my dog roam the entire backyard instead of his kennel.
If these are turkey vultures the smell of previously cooked foods on the gas grill is what is keeping them there.
Please the grill in the garage and they may left.
Just a suggestion!
too much publicity
Well, if this had not been in the newspaper, you could have bought a really nice high powered air rifle. Could have a little sport while eliminating those pests.
Something seriously wrong here
Vultures protected? It seems to me that if the government protects an animal that damages your property, you should be compensated by the government. He couldn't shoot them to stop the damage. Also, he should see an attorney to discuss his rights under the Constittution's "takings clause."
News from Nowhere
Two questions: one for the Editors and one for Mr. Ciccone.
1. This is news?
2. He called the government?
Here's an idea: call the SPCA and get a dog (427-0070).
At first glance of this article
I thought it was referring to city officials as vultures, simple mistake.
Solution for the birds I believe, is a low frequency radio/sound wave. A dog whistle is an example. My neighbor used an AM radio station talk show to scare away pesky raccoons from his property and garage. very successful.
Suggestion
I don't know if this will work with vultures. My grandmother from Mississippi had an issue with birds years ago on her fence and she was told she couldn't do anything about them.
She took some tape, with the sticky side up (taping certain sections to attach it to the railing) and put broken glass, rocks and other uneven, sometimes "sharp" things on it to prevent the birds from perching there. She also got a speaker with the sound of a big owl and put it under her large tree to keep them out of the tree as well.
I don't know if this would help the homeowner or not especially since its a porch railing not a fence (sharp objects on a porch may not be too good).
What -are- they eating?