WASHINGTON, D.C – Black vulture attacks on livestock increased 25 percent from 2020 to 2025 according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Wildlife Services. 

A group of lawmakers hopes to help farmers out with the introduction of the Black Vultures Relief Act of 2025 which is designed to cut through some of the red tape currently in place if a farmer or rancher wants to kill or remove a black vulture. The birds are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.  

U.S. Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Oklahoma, along with Sens. Tommy Tuberville, R-Alabama, Eric Schmitt, R-Missouri, and John Cornyn, R-Texas, said the Black Vultures Relief Act of 2025 would remove the requirement for a depredation permit, which allows farmers and ranchers to kill black vultures anytime the birds threaten their livestock.

“America’s cattlemen work hard to feed our communities, and shouldn’t have to jump through a bunch of hoops just to protect their herds,” Tuberville said. “Adjusting these sub-permit (which authorizes individuals to assist a main permit holder with specific wildlife-related activities) requirements that are based on outdated data is just one more commonsense way we can support our cattlemen, and help them keep more of their hard-earned dollars.”

The senators said this bill preserves annual reporting requiring livestock producers and their employees to report the taking of black vultures to the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS). The bill will also prohibit the use of poison as a means of killing the birds. 

The senators added that this, in turn, allows FWS to continue monitoring black vulture population numbers.

According to the U.S. Geological Survey’s Breeding Bird Survey, the black vulture population has increased by approximately 468 percent, to more than 190 million birds since 1990.

Mullin’s office said black vultures have become a growing problem, especially in Illinois, Indiana, and Missouri, as their population and range continue to expand northward.

Currently, the Black Vulture Relief Act is endorsed by the National Cattleman’s Beef Association (NCBA), the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), the U.S. Cattlemen’s Association, the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife and Conservation, the Texas Sheep and Goat Raisers Association, and Wyoming Stock Growers, Mullin’s office said.

The bill has also been endorsed by multiple cattlemen’s associations.

Brian Shuter, Indiana Beef Cattle Association executive vice president, told Farm World, “We are seeing an expansion of (the black vultures’) territory into southern Indiana. Tim Schwab, who manages Kopp Land and Livestock near Batesville, has shared his personal experience with black vultures with me. Tim said that one day, one of the neighbors stopped up at the barn to tell Tim that there seemed to be some commotion going on down at Tim’s calving pasture.

“When Tim got there, he found that a flock of the black-headed vultures had worked as a pack and had sorted off one newborn calf from the rest of the herd,” he said. “The flock of birds had surrounded the newborn calf and were taking turns trying to reach in and attack the calf, while the momma cow was trying to fight to hold off the attack. Luckily, Tim arrived on the scene in time to scare off the birds before they could complete their attack.

“We have heard of other producers experiencing attacks from those birds in which the vultures would attack the eyes and face of a calf during the calving process, before the calf could even be born and before the cow was able to defend herself,” he added. “With the current price of all classes of cattle as high as it is, losing just one calf to predation by these birds can be a significant financial hardship for any beef producer.”

He said, “During trips to Washington, D.C., over the last two years, we have lobbied our representatives to support this measure to allow Indiana beef producers to protect their herds from this growing threat. Many of our producers in southern Indiana have witnessed firsthand how destructive and predatory these birds can be.

“When a flock of black-headed vultures descends upon their calving pasture, obtaining a sub-permit through the Indiana Farm Bureau to take just a couple of the birds is not a feasible option,” he added. “The damage is done before the paperwork can get processed and only being allowed to take one or two of the birds under that permit is not enough to save animals’ lives due to the pack nature that they hunt in.”

Kaitlynn Glover, Public Lands Council (PLC) and NCBA Natural Resources executive director, told Farm World, “Currently, black vulture populations in the south and Midwest are skyrocketing, and it is a success story of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

“Now is the time to recognize that success and allow cattle producers to effectively manage this abundant predator species through commonsense increases in take permits, as well as a faster permitting process,” she said. “NCBA and PLC appreciate Congress taking action to fix this problem, and giving producers the management tools to protect their livelihoods.”

Black vultures should not be confused with turkey vultures. Both will be around an animal carcass