Angry Vulture Living In Our Garage. How to get him out?

[ijon]

He just wants a garage to hiss in.

 

[MysteryChicken]

Are you sure it is not a female? Maybe guarding eggs in that woodpile or someplace else? You might check, since s/he seems reluctant to leave.

No, that wood pile is fresh, & my mom has been stacking wood, it hasn't been there long enough.

 

[MysteryChicken]

They don't live, breed, nest or otherwise live in garages. Not at all normal. They do, on the other hand, have an incredible sense of smell. What is in the garage that it might be looking for to eat? Do you smell anything at all that smells like something dead? Rotting, dead animal smell? Garbage?

Nope, nothing dead, or rotting in our Garage. Only thing that smelled dead, was the vultures vomit.

 

[MysteryChicken]

Ha! Just started reading this thread and my first thought was "Don't let it throw up on you!" and then a page later I see it did.

It threw up on a bucket.

 

[path.otto]

Are you sure it is not a female? Maybe guarding eggs in that woodpile or someplace else? You might check, since s/he seems reluctant to leave.

The idea that there is something attracting the vulture to the garage in the first place has been on my mind through this thread, especially since you have successfully extracted the vulture and it seems bound and determined to get back in. I would do a careful search of the area to make sure you don't have any so far unseen (or unsmelled) attraction.

 

[Fishychix]

Could it be hurt? Maybe call your local wildlife office. I don’t know your laws and would hate to see you get in trouble for it being in your garage. Maybe they can trap it for you also.

 

[Chickassan]

I'd just move.

 

[aart]

Young confused bird.
Is it still hanging around?

 

[debik60]

That was a pain in the butt, but finally got him out. He threw up on a bucket.
In the process of getting him out, he got caught on a cord, & I had to free him. After that, he still refused to leave, but eventually pushed him out of the Garage.

I volunteer with a wildlife rescue in South Carolina. We LOVE vultures! Thank you for getting this vulture out of your garage safely and kindly. The vomiting is part of a vulture's defense mechanism--they aren't vicious birds. and while fast on their feet even grounded, are clumsy. So--"If I puke on that big scary predator, maybe they won't eat me!"
FYI--vultures nest on the ground, and often will take up residence in buildings like barns, sheds even unused dog houses. We get a lot of "kidnapped" baby vultures from well meaning folks who found a baby on the ground and think it's abandoned. They are very smart birds--and one of the few bird species that have a keen sense of smell. Young vultures imprint on humans very quickly, so, as rehabbers, we have to be careful not to spend much time handling any babies we intake, and take measures that they don't associate us with feedings and care. A lot of people who have found baby vultures try to raise them themselves, expecting to release them when they are grown. The babies do not want to leave and will have a very hard time surviving in the wild. You'd be surprised how many calls we get about adult vultures following people around--scaring most people--but the birds are just looking for a handout, associating humans with the people who raised them!

 

[adamthomas]

Turkey vultures like this one migrate through our area in Spring & Fall. They roost in the tallest trees. It seems wierd for it to want to get into your garage. Maybe it was captive and looking for an inside cage or something. Here in So Cal they release them into the wild trying to keep the species alive.

I believe you are confusing this with a California Condor which is an endangered species. The Turkey Vulture is fairly common and only raised in captivity if rescued from the wild due to injury or as an abandoned chick.