MOUNTAIN HOME, Ark. -- MOUNTAIN HOME, Ark. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Mountain Home Project Office is continuing their efforts to discourage black vultures from gathering at area boat ramps.
The Mountain Home Project Office has received numerous reports from fishermen and boaters about vehicle damages incurred because of the vultures. The birds typically damage parked vehicles by pecking and stripping windshield wiper blades, door insulation and soft exterior materials. This is a seasonal problem with migratory birds and one that can be difficult to control as black vultures are protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
Vultures are reluctant to leave boat ramps because of the fish carcasses that are left behind from fishermen who clean their catch at the ramp. Waste material generated on the project and incidental to authorized recreational activities is supposed to be removed from the project or deposited in receptacles provided for that purpose. Not doing so could result in citations, and/or your appearance before a Federal Magistrate.
Fishermen can do their part to help remedy the situation by keeping boat ramps and parking areas free of fish carcasses.
Code of Federal Regulations, Title 36, Section 327.9 (a), states that “waste material generated on the project and incidental to authorized recreational activities shall be either removed from the project or deposited in receptacles provided for that purpose. The improper disposal of such wastes, human and animal waste included, on the project is prohibited.” This violation could result in citations, and/or your appearance before a Federal Magistrate.
Rangers are conducting various non-lethal harassment techniques including,
pyrotechnics and rubber vulture effigies, which are used to scare the vultures from the area. The Mountain Home Project Office is working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Inspection Service and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to develop additional methods to discourage the birds from using the area, including possible trapping and lethal techniques.
For more information, contact the Mountain Home Project Office at 870-425-2700.
Recreation information can be found on the Internet at www.swl.usace.army.mil, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/littlerockusace and on X at www.X.com/usacelittlerock.