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Black vultures have been harassing and sometimes killing calves, costing Indiana cattle farmers money. Purdue University researchers need farmers’ help to study the problem so they can come up with solutions.
Not to be confused with turkey vultures, black vultures have black heads. More of them have moved into Indiana in recent years — but Purdue researchers aren't sure why. They suspect a warming climate and land use changes could be some factors behind the move.
Purdue doctoral student Marian Wahl said vultures are important — they clean up animal carcasses and help control diseases like rabies. Though they mostly prefer scavenging, Wahl said black vultures occasionally attack particularly vulnerable animals — like newborn calves.