Dead buzzards keep others away

by Larry Chowning – 

The Town of Urbanna has been participating for the last three years in the U.S. Department of Agriculture Buzzard Remediation Program.

As part of the program, dead buzzards are hung in trees to disrupt the roosting habits of vulture flocks and encourage the birds to fly elsewhere. “It is working,” said town administrator Holly Gailey.

“The program works but buzzards eventually come back,” said Gailey.

Currently, there are four locations in town where dead buzzards are being hung periodically in effigy. The town has USDA permits and permission from landowners, but USDA officials have the job of hanging the birds from trees.