Vultures and buzzards are a different kind of bird problem. They are large, they roost communally, and where they settle on a structure the weight, the mess and the damage are all out of proportion to the number of birds. They are also a species where placement and timing matter more than product choice — which is why this page is shorter on shopping advice and longer on getting the approach right.
Below are the Flock Free products we use for vultures. If you would rather understand the problem first, the full guide continues underneath.
Shop Vulture and Buzzard Control Products
Vulture Effigy
$119.00
A decoy made for this species. Placement and duration matter — ask us.
Moby – Portable Hazer
$3,249.00
Portable hazer for treating roost areas and open ground.
Bird Repellent Concentrate – 1 gallon
$395.00
The concentrate our hazers and misting systems run on.
Flock Free Bird Bombs (5 pcs)
$41.99
Scent-repellent pods for small enclosed spaces. Repellent sold separately.
Flock Free Bird Bomb Bundle
$31.99
One Bird Bomb plus a 4 fl oz concentrate to soak it in.
Prices shown as listed at the time of publication. See each product page for current pricing and availability. Shipping restrictions apply to certain Flock Free Bird Repellent products in CT, IN, MD, MT, NM, RI, WI and DC — see the individual product page for current availability and shipping information. Other products on this page are not affected.
Vulture work is very site-specific. Call 732-987-5400 before ordering — or keep reading below.
Continue Reading: How to Control Vultures
Why Vultures Become a Problem
- Size and weight. These are large birds. A group settling on a roof, a tower, a mast or a rail causes damage that smaller species do not.
- Material damage. Vultures pull at and tear soft materials — roof membrane, seals, vent covers, vehicle trim and equipment covers.
- Fouling at volume. A communal roost concentrates a great deal of mess onto whatever is beneath it.
- They are hard to ignore. On commercial, municipal and utility sites a vulture roost quickly becomes a visible problem as well as a practical one.
Where Vultures Roost
- Tall structures — towers, masts, water tanks, silos and rooftop equipment.
- Roof edges and ridges on large commercial buildings.
- Dead or bare trees near open ground.
- Utility infrastructure and other elevated perches with a clear view.
Why vultures keep coming back
A roost site is chosen for height, thermals and safety, and those qualities do not change on their own. Vultures are also strongly habitual, so an established roost tends to be reoccupied unless the site is made genuinely unwelcoming and kept that way.
How to Control Vultures
The Vulture Effigy
The Vulture Effigy is one of the few products in our range made for a single species, and it is the method most associated with moving a vulture roost on. It works on the birds’ strong reaction to the sight of a dead bird of their own kind.
How it is deployed matters as much as the product itself. Hanging height, orientation, position relative to the roost and how long it stays in place all affect the outcome, and the right answer depends on the structure and the roost. This is field judgement rather than a specification we would publish as a blanket instruction — contact us and we will advise for your site.
Repellent applied through hazers
Where the roost covers a wider area, our repellent program applied through hazers treats the space rather than individual perches. The repellent is plant-based and non-toxic, exempt under FIFRA 25(b), and runs from the 1 gallon concentrate through a portable Moby, a fixed Tweet Zilla or a Mini Solar Hazer where power is limited.
Bird Bombs — spot treatment for enclosed spaces
Flock Free Bird Bombs are a scent repellent that gives you a long-lasting spot application. Each Bird Bomb is a highly absorbent pod designed to be saturated with Flock Free Bird Repellent, so the treatment stays put instead of needing to be re-sprayed.
Soak the Bird Bomb in the repellent solution — the mix rate is 50% concentrate to 50% water — then place it wherever you need to deter birds. They mount easily with zip ties or any other fastener.
They are designed for small, enclosed spaces: garbage cans, dumpsters, warehouses and small industrial facilities. On an industrial or utility site that usually means the enclosed areas — waste compounds, equipment stores and service buildings — rather than the elevated roost itself. The Bird Bombs cause irritation that suppresses the birds’ desire to feed and creates a sense of danger in that space.
The 5-pack is supplied on its own and needs Flock Free Bird Repellent separately. The Bird Bomb Bundle includes a single Bird Bomb with a 4 fl oz bottle of concentrate to soak it in.
Choosing the Right Approach
Vultures are the species where the product matters least and the deployment matters most. The effigy is the method most associated with moving a roost, but hanging height, orientation, where it sits relative to the birds and how long it stays up all change the result — and those depend on your structure, not on a general rule. That is the part worth a phone call.
Beyond that, the two questions are how established the roost is and what the birds are actually sitting on. A group that has just started using a tower will move much more readily than one that has roosted there for years. And a water tank, a stretch of roof edge and a stand of dead trees are three genuinely different jobs.
If they have already been at it a while, check for damage before you plan the deterrent. Torn membrane, pulled seals and damaged vent covers need repairing alongside the work, or you are simply protecting a roof that is already leaking.
Since 2007, Flock Free has been dealing with vulture roosts on commercial, municipal and utility sites. Call 732-987-5400 and we will work through yours.
Related Bird Control Resources
- Bird Control Tips by Species of the Birds — our guidance across the other species we treat.
- Visual Deterrents — including the Vulture Effigy.
- Hazers and Sprayers — application equipment.
- Liquid Products — the bird repellent range.
- Commercial Bird Control Services — for industrial, municipal and utility sites.
Shop by Bird
Flock Free guidance for the other species we treat: