Black Vulture Relief Act of 2025
Black Vulture Relief Act of 2025
Plain Language Summary
# Black Vulture Relief Act of 2025 - Summary **What the bill does:** This bill would allow farmers and ranchers to kill, capture, or scare away black vultures that threaten their livestock without needing a special permit from the federal government. Currently, black vultures are protected by federal law, and producers must obtain permits to take action against them. The bill would make this process simpler by allowing direct action, though it would prohibit using poison. Producers would need to report annually to the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service about which vultures they've taken. **Who it affects:** Livestock producers (farmers and ranchers) and their employees would be the primary beneficiaries. The bill responds to concerns that black vulture populations have grown and increasingly attack cattle, sheep, and other farm animals. Bird protection advocates would likely be concerned about the change to federal protections for this species. **Current status:** The bill was introduced in the Senate in 2025 by Republican Senator Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma. It is currently in committee, meaning it has not yet been debated or voted on by the full Senate.
CRS Official Summary
Black Vulture Relief Act of 2025This bill allows livestock producers and their employees to take certain actions against black vultures to protect livestock. (Black vultures are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.)Specifically, livestock producers and their employees may (1) take (i.e., capture, kill, or disperse, or transport the carcass of) a black vulture that they reasonably believe will cause death, injury, or destruction to livestock; or (2) in the course of taking or attempting to take the black vulture, cause injury to the bird. However, they may not take or attempt to take a black vulture through the use of poison.Livestock producers and their employees must submit an annual report to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) on black vultures taken under this bill. The FWS must develop a reporting form and make this reporting form available on its website.Currently, the FWS has a permit process under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act for the taking of black vultures.
Latest Action
Read twice and referred to the Committee on Environment and Public Works.