Vulture eating a dead rat on top of a streetlight

[mahatmakanejeeves]

WILDLIFE

So Many Vultures around Town!

Prince Of Petworth March 30, 2020 at 3:30pm



Thanks to all who’ve messaged us. Jamie writes: “A vulture just swooped down on 19th St, killed a rat, and is eating it on top of a streetlight…

{snip}

{edited to add:}

Some repliers have pointed out that they dine on animals that are already dead. That's what I was thinking too. I hadn't considered that the rat had been poisoned. I didn't check the comments at PoPville to see if anyone there had made that observation.

[Walleye]

1. It's a dirty job, but somebody's gotta do it

[Renew Deal]

2. Are they sure that's not a door buzzard?

[Docreed2003]

6. Love a good door buzzard

But I've heard they only come out in December, lol.

[CaptainTruth]

10. Oh Lord, what an epic thread!!!

[Cracklin Charlie]

3. I saw a turkey vulture soaring over my back yard yesterday.

They look so beautiful when they’re way up in the sky.

On the the ground, not so much.

[Cattledog]

4. That's a Turkey vulture & probably will soon be dead.

Turkey vultures feed exclusively on dead animals. That rat was most likely poisoned. I once had a Red Tailed Hawk lying dead on my patio. Adult, not a mark on it. Looked healthy but dead as a doornail from eating a poisoned rodent.

[safeinOhio]

7. West Nile killed lots of

Raptors years ago. Mostly hawks and owls.

[aaaaaa5a]

5. That looks like a black-headed vulture

They are scavengers. The rat was likely already dead when the vulture found it. Vultures are magnificent creatures. Their work helps to keep the environment clean and ironically limits the spread of disease.

A vulture’s immune system is amazingly powerful. It’s almost impossible for a vulture to get sick.

Most vulture’s in the USA are Turkey Vultures or Black-Headed Vultures.

Cool picture.

[3Hotdogs]

8. He might have entered D.C., waiting, hoping for a certain obese menace to vacate,

not of his own desire.

[IronLionZion]

9. Good that someone is eating our rats

They're getting very bold during this lockdown since they're getting less restaurant food. Maybe we should tell Mayor Bowser that rats spread coronavirus and rat extermination should be an essential service. Now's a great time to get as many of them as possible.

[marble falls]

11. Buzzards out here grab cats. We don't leave the cat on the porch when we see buzzards ...

around - somethings that's been a lot more common since Trump got elected. Not suggesting a connection - just time lining it.

[CaptainTruth]

12. Here in FL the ospreys sit on a light pole & eat fish, & cats sit under the pole...

...waiting for fish bits to drop.

Smart kitties get fresh-caught fish!