# Natural predators of vultures?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natural-predators-of-vultures/391544>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 9, 2007, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natural-predators-of-vultures/391544 "2007-02-09T20:35:35Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\
**Post date:** [February 9, 2007, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natural-predators-of-vultures/391544/1 "2007-02-09T20:35:35Z")

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Is there any animal that makes a regular habit of hunting, killing, and eating our favorite winged carrion-eaters, the vultures? Or are they pretty much left alone?

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**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\
**Post date:** [February 9, 2007, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natural-predators-of-vultures/391544/2 "2007-02-09T20:44:47Z")

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No, there aren’t any predators that make a regular habit of preying on vultures, or any other large bird of prey, for that matter. An unwary vulture may occasionally be taken by a coyote, jackal, or other predator, but nothing specializes on them.

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**Author:** ![gytalf2000](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ac91a4/32.png) [@gytalf2000](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gytalf2000)\
**Post date:** [February 9, 2007, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natural-predators-of-vultures/391544/3 "2007-02-09T22:09:11Z")

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[QUOTE=Colibri]  
No, there aren’t any predators that make a regular habit of preying on vultures, or any other large bird of prey, for that matter. An unwary vulture may occasionally be taken by a coyote, jackal, or other predator, but nothing specializes on them.  
[/QUOTE]

So other predators may consume vulture meat on occasion? I was wondering if the nature of their diet might make them unpalatable to others. I suppose not!

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**Author:** ![Mtgman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5a626/32.png) [@Mtgman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mtgman)\
**Post date:** [February 9, 2007, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natural-predators-of-vultures/391544/4 "2007-02-09T22:47:34Z")

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One of their natural defenses makes them pretty unpalatable to most predators. Some species of vulture will [disgorge their lunch, which happens to be carrion, at a predator as a defense mechanism](http://vulturesociety.homestead.com/TVFacts~ns4.html#anchor_13531).

Enjoy,  
Steven

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**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\
**Post date:** [February 9, 2007, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/natural-predators-of-vultures/391544/5 "2007-02-09T23:02:51Z")

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[QUOTE=gytalf2000]  
So other predators may consume vulture meat on occasion? I was wondering if the nature of their diet might make them unpalatable to others. I suppose not!  
[/QUOTE]

I have never heard there is anything in particular wrong with vulture meat, but I suppose it might be a bit gamy. Considering some of the things dogs eat, I don’t imagine they or many other predators would have much problem with it.