Florida Homeowners Besieged by 50 Vultures

Florida homeowners Dave and Judy Harting were recently inundated by a flock of federally protected vultures. When the Hartings moved into their home last year, they were joined by nearly 50 vultures, who settled on their roof, deck and backyard.

The besieged homeowners were aware of the vultures in the neighborhood and were advised that the birds would leave as soon as the house was occupied. Too bad no one told the vultures. Now the Hartings have to deal with smelly vulture droppings and scratched cars (these big birds have big claws).  After trying a number of bird guards, the Hartings are at their wits end. Lethal means can’t be used against the birds since black vultures are protected by state and federal laws.

If your home is plagued by large birds like vultures, it’s time you get serious about bird control. Keep in mind that, like most wild birds, vultures—who feast on carrion (dead animals)—can carry any of 60 known diseases. Instead of simple noisemakers and water hoses, you should consider implementing some professionally recommended pest bird deterrents. Consider the following:

Scarecrows 

To get rid of turkey vultures and other large birds from your backyard, trying installing a Scarecrow. The second a big bird enters a scarecrow’s “area of protection,” a motion-activated sprinkler blasts it with a harmless but persuasive burst of water. Scarecrows connect to any standard garden hose and will guard a 1,200-square-foot area (or a 35-foot by 45-foot wide swath). Both the Scarecrow’s sensitivity and effective radius can be easily adjusted to the size and shape of your yard.

Mega Bird Spikes

Designed to keep larger birds like vultures away from specific areas of roofs, patio covers and other elevated areas of your home, Bird Spikes are harmless to any birds and pets who may wander on your roof or patio cover. Bird spikes come in rigid unbreakable polycarbonate (plastic) or durable stainless steel. They typically come in two-foot long strips for easy installation. You can also get the Mega Spike, which has long 7-inch spikes--ideal for keeping vultures off fences and ledges. Mega bird spikes are usually made of marine-grade stainless steel to endure tough outdoor weather.

Balloons  and Diverters

Used in conjunction with the two bird guards listed above, Visual Bird Deterrents include Reflective Bird Diverters and Predator Eye Balloons. Diverters are tear-drop shaped panels that feature a big predator eye to intimidate birds. They are typically hung in various lengths and spaced 2 to 3 feet apart. Predator Eye Balloons are beach-ball size deterrents emblazoned with large predator eyes. The best predator eye balloons are made of a weather-resistant vinyl plastic and feature a top eyelet that allows them to be easily hung in high visibility areas around your home. For best results, be sure to move these visual bird deterrents around often to convince vultures that they constitute a “live” threat.