After the latest attacks by vultures, on a cow and her calf, which took place on October 24, in Sévérac-d'Aveyron, several animal protection associations are opposing the draft prefectural decree authorizing the shooting of vultures. scaring which should come into force in the coming days.
The images are difficult and, as always, they did not fail to provoke a reaction from the farmers' unions. On October 24, in Séverac-d'Aveyron, a cow and her calf were victims of a new attack by vultures.
The FDSEA of Aveyron as well as the Young Farmers recalled the previous facts: in May 2024 on cows and calves in Ségur as well as on sheep in Curan and Sévérac-d'Aveyron, and last October 1 on an octogenarian in Verrières. And once again the agricultural unions are calling on the Bird Protection League (LPO) and the French Biodiversity Office (OFB) to “change their speech quickly and stop hiding the true face of the vulture“.
Non-lethal ammunition
On October 17, the Aveyron prefecture submitted a draft prefectural decree “exempting the ban on the disturbance of the protected species of griffon vultures”. “Given the persistence of interactions between vultures and livestock farms and in order to prevent them around livestock buildings and in fenced pastures where cattle are present, this request for exemption aims to authorize the implementation of measures to keep away griffon vultures”, specify the prefecture services.
These measures are, however, “taken on an experimental and exceptional basis” and they “consist of causing birds to take flight and move away using non-lethal ammunition.”
“It should be emphasized that these scare shots are not likely to cause the population of griffon vultures to decline or to harm its state of conservation,” adds the prefecture.
The prefect of Aveyron, Charles Giusti assures that the decree will therefore be issued within a few days. “We have obviously consulted several authorities, notably the DDT, who have given the green light for the implementation of this decree. This is not destructive firing, but rather blank firing,” adds the prefect. “And unlike the wolf, where there are several tools to try to avoid predation, there is nothing similar for the vulture. It is therefore a question of providing answers to breeders.”
Unjustified and potentially dangerous
However, several wildlife defense associations have stepped up to denounce this decision. “This project extends over 102 municipalities, or approximately 43% of the department […] The Focale pour le sauvage association is firmly opposed to this system, which it considers unnecessary, unjustified and potentially dangerous for the scavenging birds of prey of the Grands Causses.”
Indeed, the association recalls the role played by the vulture and “the theory of attacks, long fueled by anecdotes and isolated cases, has been scientifically invalidated. Studies show that, even in the rare cases where vultures have intervened on live animals, this often involves situations of dying animals and not active attacks.”
“The scaring shots proposed by this decree between March 1 and November 15, 2025 and 2026 will in no way resolve the problems raised by certain breeders. On the other hand, they could cause serious disturbances in vulture colonies during the breeding season. and weaken the conservation efforts carried out for decades”, estimates the LPO (Bird Protection League).
Lack of knowledge of the species
For the LPO, this prefectural decree could lead to “serious disturbances in vulture colonies during the breeding season and weaken the conservation efforts carried out for decades”. The two associations also evoke “a disproportionate response” and “counterproductive” while the official text “sloppy and shaky was produced with a total ignorance of the species and its rural environment”.
Each of the associations asks that “scientific data” on the subject be taken into account. And in particular to underline the role of the vulture in the management of carcasses, “while the proposed provisions (the prefectural decree) seem to respond more to pressure from certain unions than to a real necessity”.
The FDSEA and the JA remain on their position: “The vulture must remain a scavenger, cleaner of corpses and not become what it is today: an animal dangerous to other species including Man.”
