The Real Reason Turkey Vulture Numbers Are Skyrocketing in Iowa

If you were born and raised in Iowa, your memory isn’t playing tricks on you: you are seeing way more turkey vultures in the sky today than you did when you were a kid.

Just a few decades ago, seeing one of these birds in the Iowa sky was a relatively uncommon sight. But these giant birds with distinct red heads and wobbly V-shaped flight have experienced a sizeable population boom within the state's borders. Biologists estimate there are now anywhere between 50,000 and 100,000 turkey vultures spending their springs and summers in Iowa.

But why the sudden takeover?

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While a general ban on certain pesticides in the 1970s gave all birds of prey a fighting chance to recover, the real driver behind the turkey vulture's modern explosion comes down to a grim but highly effective partnership: modern highway speeds and the ultimate "Roadkill Cafe."

Turkey Vultures are one of the more unique birds on the planet, as they can smell fresh carrion from several miles away while soaring high in the sky.

As Iowa's highways began to grow, and some of the most harsh pesticides were banned, turkey vultures began to see a dramatic increase in their numbers. Basically, because there were more roads, there were way more dead animals along those roads, and nature brought back the turkey vulture to be the "clean up crew".

Because of this, the state of Iowa has seen an added benefit. When a vulture eats a diseased carcass, it stops dangerous viruses and bacteria like rabies, anthrax, and botulism from leaching into Iowa's soil or spreading to other wildlife and domestic animals.

So, the next time you see that giant shadow cross the highway, give it a tip of the cap, as this bird has dramatically helped the state in ways most residents haven't even thought about.