Fauquier High School takes extreme measures to remove 100 unwanted vultures

A flock of unwanted vultures at Fauquier High School is raising a number of concerns.

The vultures tend to congregate around the school farm and present a health risk for both the students and the animals. 

Fauquier High School Principal Dr. David Ferguson and Agricultural Department Head Susan Hilleary outlined the issue in a letter to Warrenton Town Council, referencing recommendations from the United States Department of Agriculture.

According to a letter, Fauquier High School requested permission from the council to hang two black vulture effigies on the school campus to help disperse the groups of over 100 vultures.

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"The effigies are to be hung over the pig pens where the vultures congregate and harass the pigs. There are typically over 100 vultures in the committee that hangs around the school farm, ball fields, and buildings," the letter details. 

"The purpose of this correspondence is in support of the recommendations of the United States Department of Agriculture’s to use two effigies to help with the growing issue of the vultures at the Tripp Bopp Farm at Fauquier High School." 

This method would involve vulture effigies hanging real or fake vulture carcasses around the vulture roosting or gathering area; these effigies would remain in place for several weeks until the effigy deteriorates through natural weathering, according to the letter. 

In response, the town of Warrenton unanimously approved the "extreme" measure of Fauquier High School to use vulture effigies in an effort to disperse the growing number of black vultures congregating on the school’s campus. 

Wild NatureFauquier CountyVirginiaNews