North Carolina Town Installs Cannon To Scare Off Vultures

For many people, birds can be a nuisance. From early morning chirping to chowing down on road kill, these feathered fiends can cause a disruption in day-to-day life. But what happens when they go from being an annoyance to being a danger to the community? One small town in North Carolina has come up with a banger of a solution.

The town of Bunn, about 30 miles outside of Raleigh, plans to install a propane cannon to get rid of vultures that have been gathering in the area. There is, however, a reason for the extreme measure. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, vultures can cause agriculture and property damage as well has cause health and safety concerns.

From December 22 to January 3, the cannon will be temporarily placed on top of the high school gymnasium while students are home for the winter break. The town issued a public announcement ahead of the installation to inform residents of its plans to ward off the birds of prey.

According to the announcement, the cannon will produce a 130-decibel sound, similar to a shotgun, at specific times throughout the day, likely in the morning, afternoon, and evening when the raptors are likely to be roosting.

Though vultures are federally protected, a permit allows people to "take" vultures but not to "harass or otherwise disperse or discourage vultures from using areas."

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