Do Bird Spikes Work for Vultures?

Even if you don't live near a landfill or have any carcasses rotting in your yard, you could still have vultures hanging around your home and neighborhood. Some folks immediately want to chase these large birds away, but the Turkey Vulture Society says these large birds need not always be deterred. In fact, doing so could cause more harm than good. If you do want to chase them away, you can employ a number of different methods, one of which is large bird spikes.

Attractions

Vultures are attracted to particular areas for a number of different reasons. These social birds usually gather and roost in large numbers, with plenty of room to provide for those large numbers. These areas include roofs over homes, garages or porches, cell phone or other large towers, and branches from large trees or a collection of trees. The stereotypical thought of vultures circling landfills, garbage dumps and carcasses also holds true, as food is a major attraction. Vultures, however, will not necessarily roost where they feed if there is not enough space to accommodate them.

Deterrents

Bird spikes are one way to get rid of vultures, but they are not the only way. Spikes are best used for high, hard-to-reach areas where other methods are not feasible. If vultures are hanging out lower to the ground in your yard, you could opt for a scarecrow that doubles as a motion-activated sprinkler system, spraying water when anything comes near it. Regular sprinkler systems or hoses aimed at their perches, shaking trees or other structures on which they are roosting and making a lot of noise may also work to scare them away. Those practices may not necessarily keep them away unless you use them consistently if the vultures return.

Spike Types

If you decide to go for bird spikes, opt for those best suited for the vultures. Large metal or plastic spikes you can easily install in the roosting area are your best bet. Such spikes are ideal for roofs, awnings, windowsills and ledges, eaves, canopies or around the perimeter of a chimney top. The largest bird spikes are generally about 7 inches tall and come on strips that are about 2 feet long. Strip width varies from about 3 to 8 inches. Metal spikes are usually stainless steel and more durable than plastic strips, but they can also be more visible and interfere with electronics. Plastic spikes often come in a variety of colors and are a lighter weight than the metal. Both types attach to the roosting surface with adhesive or nails. Both metal and plastic spikes are on a plastic base.

Manufacturers and Cost

A number of companies make bird spikes that run around 4 inches high, and there also are 7-inch spikes meant for vultures and other larger birds. The price of the spikes depends on the width of the strip, which are sold in 2-foot-long sections. Stainless steel 3-inch-wide spikes start at about $25 for three strips, 5-inch spikes go for about $30 for three strips and 8-inch spikes for about $32 for three strips. Plastic spikes start around $20 for three strips, and the 5-inch and 7-inch spikes around $25 for three strips. Boxes of up to 25 strips are available. Cost reflects pricing in 2010.

Considerations

Before you invest in large bird spikes or other vulture deterrents, keep in mind that not all vultures should be deterred, according to the Turkey Vulture Society. If the birds are hanging out in the nearby woods or forest area and not causing any damage to your home, yard or area businesses, the Society says just to leave them be. Deterring them from the wooded area could result in the vultures picking a less favorable roosting spot, like your own home's roof or atop a store or business. If the vultures are causing property damage and are otherwise a nuisance, a deterrent is in order.

References

• Turkey Vulture Society: Discouraging Vultures
• University of Arizona Cooperative Extension: Scarecrows Can Deter Pest Vultures
• Wisconsin Natural Resources Magazine: Burned While Getting Dinner