Legislation helps protect against vultures

On May 23, Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK), alongside Sens. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), Eric Schmitt (R-MO) and John Cornyn (R-TX), introduced the Black Vulture Relief Act of 2025, which would give producers across the U.S. the ability to protect livestock threatened by predatory animals without government interference.

According to the May 23 press release published by Mullin’s office, this legislation aims to remove the requirement for a depredation permit, allowing producers to take black vultures anytime they cause a threat, while preserving the requirement for annual take reporting to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) to allow FWS to continue monitoring black vulture populations. 

The bill would also prohibit the use of poison as a method of take. 

Mullin states, “Oklahoma ranchers deserve the right to protect their livestock from threatening predators. Attacks from black vultures are all too common and our ranchers are suffering the consequences. As a rancher myself, I know firsthand the implications of the rapidly growing black vulture population and the negative effect this has on livestock production.”

“Removing the requirement for a depredation permit will allow producers the ability to do what is necessary to protect their livestock and reduce economic hardship. It’s vital to the livelihood of ranchers across the country that we get this fixed,” he adds.

Tuberville further comments, “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. Adjusting these sub-permit requirements based on outdated data is just one more commonsense way we can support our cattlemen and help them keep more of their hard-earned dollars.”

Background information

The press release notes the Black Vulture Relief Act comes in response to the increasing burden producers face due to the rise in livestock depredation by an ever-growing number of black vultures. 

In fact, 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. 

Data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Animal Plant and Health Inspection Service’s Wildlife Services (WS) shows black vultures as the third leading cause of calf death from predators in 2015, behind coyotes and unknown predators, with vultures causing 24,600 or 10 percent of all predatory death. 

WS also notes from 2020-25, black vulture attacks on cattle rose nearly 25 percent. 

Despite this, the black vulture is protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918, making it illegal to take one without obtaining a permit, with fines up to $15,000. 

FWS currently issues master permits to individual states, which then issue sub-permits to ranchers, with a limit of three to 10 per state. Only 14 states participate in the program, including Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas and Virginia. 

In January, the America’s Conservation Enhancement Act was signed into law, including a provision Mullin secured to codify the original Black Vulture Relief Act Pilot Program. 

Today’s legislation has been cosponsored by Sens. Tom Cotton (R-AR), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Katie Britt (R-AL), Rick Scott (R-FL), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Bill Hagerty (R-TN), Ted Budd (R-NC), John Barrasso (R-WY), Pete Ricketts (R-NE), Ted Cruz (R-TX), James Lankford (R-OK), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS) and Lindsey Graham (R-SC). 

Nationwide support

Since its introduction, the Black Vulture Relief Act of 2025 has gained sweeping support across the nation’s ag industry, with endorsements from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA), American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), U.S. Cattlemen’s Association, Oklahoma Department of Wildlife and Conservation, Texas Sheep and Goat Raisers Association and Wyoming Stock Growers Association.

Additionally, 14 cattlemen’s associations, including those in Alabama, Colorado, Iowa, Indiana, Kansas, Minnesota, Mississippi, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Missouri, Tennessee and Virgina, as well as the state farm bureau federations in Florida, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas and Wyoming have voiced support for the bill as well. 

“The challenges faced by America’s farmers and ranchers are numerous, from unstable commodity prices to drought and unpredictable weather,” states AFBF Vice President of Public Policy Sam Kieffer. “The safety threat to livestock posed by predatory birds like black vultures is yet another risk our members face, day in and day out, and we’re appreciative of Mullin’s leadership to help our members mitigate this risk. Protecting their livestock is of the utmost importance to farmers and ranchers, and this legislation will better equip them to do just that.”

NCBA Executive Director of Natural Resources and Public Lands Council Executive Director Kaitlynn Glover comments, “Currently, black vulture populations in the south and Midwest are skyrocketing, and it is a success story of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918. Now is the time to recognize this success and allow cattle producers to effectively manage this abundant predator species through commonsense measures like the Black Vulture Relief Act of 2025.”

“Family cattle operations are facing financial strain from the abundance of black vultures on their operations and the propensity of these predators to target newborn calves that cannot defend themselves,” she continues. “NCBA and PLC thank Mullin for taking action to fix this problem and providing producers the management tools they need to protect their livelihoods.”

Hannah Bugas is the managing editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.