This year, an increase in vulture and bear activity has plagued Athens County residents, with the animals wreaking havoc on the area by looting through trash and causing other destruction while in search of food sources.
Black vultures, which are slightly smaller than turkey vultures and have black heads, are common in Ohio but new to the city of Athens, said Athens Mayor Paul Wiehl. Black vultures are known to be more aggressive than turkey vultures and may attack small animals.
This summer, the vultures have been spotted around Franklin Avenue and Grosvenor Street, causing a nuisance by kicking over neighborhood trash cans and roosting on roofs instead of in trees, Wiehl said.
Although the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 protects black vultures, it is possible to attain a depredation permit if the birds are creating an excessive problem on farms, causing an economic burden, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service web site. The permits are available through the Division of Wildlife,
The birds were very active in Ohio in 2005, damaging livestock and poultry, but were not a problem in Athens, according to the Ohio Department of Agriculture's 2005 annual report.
To curtail the amount of vultures on a person's lawn, Wiehl said using a laser pointer on cloudy nights could help deter the migratory animal from landing.
Athens County residents were also subjected to an increase in bear sightings in 2010. As of August 2010, there were 12 bear sightings in the county, with four confirmed and eight unconfirmed.
This number is an increase from 2009, when two bears were spotted, with one confirmed and one unconfirmed.
The most recent bear sighting in the city of Athens was Aug. 2, when a young black bear was spotted roaming the streets of Athens in search of food. Residents reported seeing the bear on Richland Avenue, Stimson Avenue, State Street, near the Athens County Library and 30 Home St.
Although some residents may be alarmed by the increase in wildlife sightings, Spokeswoman for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources District Four Division of Wildlife Susie Vance said vultures and bears are more active because they are searching for food, not because they are trying to damage the area.
Food sources [are responsible] for attracting and driving animal activities
Vance said.
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Victoria Calderon
