Buzzards at Penhook boat ramp

[mississipi]

Last week I put in at Penhook and parked my truck, like I have done hundreds of times. When I returned to my truck buzzards had been all over my truck. Not only did leave crap all over my truck they scratched the paint on the top, hood , grill and tailgate. Also my mirrors are badly scratched up.  They destroyed the weather stripping around all the doors and windows. My insurance is going to cover most of it but I wonder next time I go if it could happen again.  Not sure If anything could be done to stop them from doing It. If Anyone has any ideas I would appreciate it.

[greg]

This is the first time I've heard of this at SML. The guys down in NC talk about it at certain ramps, buzzards tearing out the rubber seal around the windshield and windows. I would not be happy to come back to the ramp and find this had happened.

[greywalls]

Supposedly, hawk and owl decoys will keep buzzards away... Maybe something like this: www.amazon.com/YOFIT-Scarecrow-Repellent-Protectors-Deterrent/dp/B01IXTAN74/

[mwardncsu]

I saw something from down in FL where they have tarps & bungies at the ramps for folks to cover & protect their vehicle and then return when leaving

[Red Bear]

wow. ive never heard of buzzards attacking a vehicle. that sucks

[Shadslinger]

Not the first time at pen hook Ramp. I know a guy that had the same thing happen there 2 yrs ago. I wonder if the stinking outhouses draw them in.

[mississipi]

Luckily I was able to buff out most of the scratches in the paint. I guess I will live with the scratched up mirrors,grill and some of the trim. Replacing the window seals, door seals, and windshield drip guards is going to cost about 800.00. Not near as bad as I first thought. Very hesitant to go back though.

[fokromix]

Used to be a HUGE problem on the lower James at a couple different ramps I went to...mostly Dutch Gap. As I recall USDA and VDGIF killed as many as 350 back in '05 but they came back the next year. Guys started to cover trucks with tarps as the only solution but heard that sometimes they just ate through the tarp. I rarely parked there but one time I went there were buzzards(or vultures?) hanging from the light poles as a deterrent and the damn things were still everywhere so we went elsewhere. Didn't seem to do much. Think what finally resolved it (haven't been in a long time) was a long term harrassment campaign(noise, paintball guns, even fireworks) and commitment to keeping area cleaner.

c8.alamy.com/comp/B5EFTD/sign-warning-about-possible-damages-from-black-vultures-near-dutch-B5EFTD.jpg

www.jamesrivercats.com/picts/027.jpg

www.bayjournal.com/article/no_sale_here_grinning_windsocks_keep_vultures_at_bay

[smlake]

I live near Penhook boat dock and these buzzards are a real problem for lake residents also. They get on the ridge top of our houses and boathouses and make a real mess with their droppings and they tear up our roof shingles. Also, these buzzards will get on the boats in the open boat houses and tear up the boat covers and boat seats. They are a protected species so you cannot just kill them. The VADGIF folks need to take action to curb the population of these buzzards. The same goes for all these resident geese around here.

[greg]

Jul 9, 2019 10:15:53 GMT -5 smlake said:

They are a protected species so you cannot just kill them. The same goes for all these resident geese around here.

A high powered pellet rifle would be a great addition to your arsenal, quiet and effective.