Residents in Lyman, South Carolina say a flock of at least 50 vultures has been tearing into roofs, vehicles, and solar panels for months, leaving behind thousands of dollars in damage and no shortage of frustration. The birds reportedly gather daily, and some neighbors say they've been raising the alarm with town officials for nearly a year with little to show for it.
The scope of the damage is wide-ranging, according to FOX Carolina News, which reported that vultures have damaged Mary McCombs's roof and a truck owned by her family, along with a separate house roof line, parts of a car's windshield wipers, and a windshield-washer line that was reportedly cut in half. McCombs is now among the residents who say they want to sell their homes because of the ongoing problem.
One resident shared photos with the outlet showing roughly $3,000 in solar-panel damage, and said the fallout has pushed an electric bill to nearly $1,000 a month. Another household described a shed delivered just two months ago that's already covered in bird feces, while an outdoor umbrella reportedly lasted only a week once the vultures moved in.
Neighbors Say Complaints Went Unanswered for Nearly a Year
Colette Bouchard told the outlet she reported the issue to Lyman town officials, including Mayor David Petty, and said she was told the town could not take action — a response that left her, like McCombs, wanting to sell her house and move on. Residents have been raising these concerns with town officials for close to a year, per the same account.
It wasn't until FOX Carolina contacted town officials directly that town leaders called residents back, the station reported.
Town Turns to Federal Wildlife Rules for Answers
Because vultures are classified as protected migratory birds, Lyman's options are limited by federal law. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service states that the Migratory Bird Treaty Act prohibits the take of protected migratory birds, which includes killing, capturing, selling, trading, and transporting them without authorization.
That means the town must obtain a permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service before pursuing certain actions involving the birds. The agency's guidance describes Depredation Permits under federal regulations.
