Black Vulture Relief Act Introduced to Protect Livelihoods of Farmers and Ranchers

Strategic Insights -

U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) has introduced the Black Vulture Relief Act of 2025, along with Senators Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) and Eric Schmitt (R-MO), to address the growing threat of black vultures to livestock production. The bill aims to remove the requirement for a depredation permit, allowing farmers and ranchers to protect their livestock from black vultures without facing heavy government regulation. The proposed legislation also preserves the requirement for annual take reporting to the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS), ensuring that the black vulture population can be monitored.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Black Vulture Relief Act of 2025 aims to protect the livelihoods of farmers and ranchers by allowing them to take black vultures without a depredation permit.
  • The bill removes the requirement for annual take reporting to the FWS, but preserves the requirement for annual reporting.
  • The legislation is endorsed by various stakeholders, including the National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA), American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF), and the US Cattlemen's Association (USCA).
  • Black vultures, a native species, have seen their population grow by over 450% since 1990, and are now a significant threat to livestock production.
  • The bill is supported by various farm and cattlemen associations, including the Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association and the Tennessee Farm Bureau.
  • The proposed legislation is seen as a common-sense approach to addressing the issue of black vulture depredation on livestock.

Statistics:

  • The black vulture population has increased by approximately 468% to more than 190 million birds since 1990.
  • Black vultures are the third leading cause of calf deaths due to predators, responsible for up to 10% of all calf deaths.
  • Requests to FWS for depredation permits for take of black vultures increased by 26% from 2015-2019.
  • Black vulture attacks on cattle increased by almost 25% from 2020-2025, according to the US Department of Agriculture's Wildlife Services.

Sources:

  • United States Senator Markwayne Mullin (R-OK)
  • Senators Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) and Eric Schmitt (R-MO)
  • National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA)
  • American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF)
  • US Cattlemen's Association (USCA)
  • Oklahoma Cattlemen's Association
  • Tennessee Farm Bureau
  • US Department of Agriculture's Wildlife Services
  • America's Conservation Enhancement (ACE) Reauthorization Act of 2025
  • House Companion: H.R. 2426 introduced by Reps. John Rose (R-TN) and Darren Soto (D-FL)