To our Arkansas cattle ranchers concerned about black vultures killing your youngest livestock: I hear you, and we can help.
At the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service we want to be a good neighbor and a good business partner, which is why we think we've come up with a solution that will help make your problems fly away... literally.
A little background here: Recently, U.S. Rep. Rick Crawford of Arkansas logged on to his Facebook page. Black vultures, he wrote, had developed a taste for calves, and there was little cattle growers could do about it. The reason? The birds are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act--safe from gun or net.
"I'm urging the Fish and Wildlife Service to take action," he wrote. "Black vulture depredation is profoundly impacting the viability of many farm and ranch operations."
I heard similar concerns in June when my team and I traveled to Little Rock. We met with local stakeholders including the Cattlemen's Association, Farm Bureau, Livestock and Poultry Commission, governor's office, and others to listen to their concerns and see what we could do about it.
Our takeaway? Folks need help, and quickly.
Note that last word, "quickly."
The best, fastest and least-frustrating way to control the vultures is to apply for a depredation permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The holder of the permit could be allowed to take up to 10 percent of the vultures that are targeting his herds. Yes, 10 percent.
Some news outlets have reported that the permits allow a maximum take of 30 vultures. That's not true. One Arkansas cattleman holds a permit now that allows him take 100 vultures.
It's not difficult to get the permit. We have a dedicated member of the team, John McConnell, who fields requests for assistance for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's APHIS Wildlife Services. The agency has representatives in each state who are ready to visit a producer with a vulture problem.
The team is prioritizing these permits and processes them very promptly. When the office gets a request, it sends a biologist to the site where the birds are causing trouble. The biologist works with the farmer or rancher to conduct an assessment of the problem and an inventory of how many birds are in the area.
If the biologist determines that the grower's complaints are valid, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will give the grower something called Form 37. That, and a $100 check, will get the administrative wheels rolling.
They roll pretty fast, too. An applicant can have his or her permit in less than a month--start to finish.
As of this writing, 11 Arkansas cattle growers have the permits, with more in the pipeline.
Black vultures are prodigious fliers. Their migratory range extends thousands of miles, from North America to the lower reaches of South America. For that reason, they are included on the Migratory Bird Act Treaty. The act, which has been in effect since 1918, offers protections for birds whose flight paths cross national boundaries.
The black vulture population has increased in recent years. Unfortunately, some have chosen to remain at sites like local Arkansas pastures where, thanks to a strong cattle community, the pickings are good. This problem is not unique to Arkansas. Last year, the service met with South Carolina cattle growers with the same concerns, the same complaints.
Ronnie McGhee, president of Greenlawn Farms in Decatur, is very familiar with this issue too. Last year, McGhee applied for a permit to take black vultures. Once he got it, McGhee took three. He hung their carcasses from a tree. The vultures quickly got the message. And as McGhee said, "We didn't see any more after that."
Last fall, the family-owned operation produced about 350 calves; this spring, the farm greeted 150 more.
Some growers have asked the service to issue a depredation order, a decree allowing the unlimited take of birds. While we understand their position and share their concern, this unfortunately isn't realistic within a short time frame. Such an order calls for hearings, biological surveys, environmental-impact studies, and more. It takes years to properly and legally create such a policy. It's more efficient, better for the environment, and a lot cheaper for affected growers and taxpayers to get a permit.
Here's a final bonus: This approach also calls for fewer regulatory measures, too. Something I think all farmers, ranchers, and business owners (and regulators) can support.
So call us. We want to help you, and working together, we can and will fix this.
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Cindy Dohner is director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's Southeast Region, which includes Arkansas.
Editorial on 08/19/2017