If You Can’t Live With Turkey Vultures Get Them to Move

Question: An entire flock of turkey vultures have roosted in the eucalyptus trees in our backyard. Not only are they very large birds, they are extremely territorial. They swoop closely down over our heads to make us leave the area, and they’re the nastiest, messiest and most foul-smelling fowl we’ve ever encountered. They’ve completely taken over our backyard. They’re also banded and protected so how do we get rid of them--forever?

S.R.

San Juan Capistrano

Answer: Turkey vultures may raise a stink, but they’re not technically fowl. They’re actually in the same family as the bald eagle and osprey. And they are not buzzards, although many people refer to them as such.

Turkey vultures live year-round along the California coast and throughout the southern United States extending up the East Coast. They also migrate through California during spring and again in fall as they retreat below the border.

As nature intended, these remarkable birds are scavengers of all things dead--from road kill to tadpoles. Carrion eaters that rarely attack anything live, to some they are incredibly ugly with their featherless red heads flawlessly designed to prevent the dirtying of feathers as their heads descend into bloody body cavities.

Turkey vultures’ manners are atrocious, particularly when they suspect you of being an intruder. Notably, they’ll regurgitate their dinner at you, a supremely uncouth defense mechanism believed to ward off predators and lighten their load for a quick take-off. They also defecate wildly, although despite the murk they eat, their leavings are reportedly free from the very bacteria and viruses they occasionally ingest.

Since they’re native migratory birds they’re protected by federal law, which means you can do nothing to harm them. But you can discourage them.

According to Noel Myers, staff wildlife biologist at the USDA’s Wildlife Services in Sacramento, the remedies they’re confined to include eliminating or thinning trees the birds are roosting in or simply harassing them away.

Myers suggests using a high-pressure water spray, loud noises like sirens and honking sounds--or even firecrackers if they’re legal where you live.

Generally, turkey vultures leave their roosts in the morning to search out food. They may spend the day loafing on roofs, poles, the ground, spa and boat covers--even patio furniture. You’ll want to begin your harassment routine in the late afternoon, when the first birds begin to return to the roost. Be persistent.

Turkey vultures can get pretty entrenched in their roost, so you may have great difficulty convincing them to go. And then, if they do, they may only move next door.

The Efficient Way to Rid Cockroaches

Q: At night, there are cockroaches in my backyard, on the concrete patio, crawling on the side of my house and garage. I’ve cleaned up dead plant matter, put boric acid powder out, but still have a problem. I used some glue traps but lizards get stuck in them, too, so I don’t like using them. Any way of finding where they nest during the day and then getting rid of a lot of them at once? It’s brushy where I live, and I prefer not to use strong toxins.

L.D.

Tujunga

A: There are four steps to cockroach control. First is prevention. Caulk around windows, doors and other entry points, plugging the tiniest of holes with expanding foam or mesh copper. Check that door thresholds are tight. This should help keep mice out as well.

Second is sanitation. In the event you have field cockroaches, keep the brush in your yard and around the house raked up. Put your garbage in plastic bags and check that your garbage cans have a good seal. Pick up pet food before it gets dark.

Third is an inspection, and this may be the key in your case. Call in a pest control company to get another pair of trained eyes to help. Since you seem to have the problem at night near the patio, they’re probably attracted to the light and moisture. Change the bulbs in your porch lights to yellow and set your sprinklers to water the lawn in the morning.

The fourth step is to apply pesticides. Try placing bait stations with small holes where the cockroaches visit. A pest control company can instruct you on choosing bait stations.

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Got critter conflicts? Send your queries to wildlife biologist Andrea Kitay at P.O. Box 2489, Camarillo, CA 93011, or via e-mail to andrea@livingwithwildlife.com. Please include your name and city. Questions cannot be answered individually. Visit https://www.livingwithwildlife.com to see answers to frequently asked questions.