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A vulture or a buzzard is a large scavenger bird with a very unpleasant smell. This bird eats the flesh of dead animals and urinates on its own feet in order to cool itself. So here the most intriguing question arises: Can you eat vultures? Are birds that feed on rotten meat and urinate on their own feet edible?
No, you should never eat vulture meat. Eating these disease-filled birds is not recommended, not even for survival. Vultures eat dead animals, and because of that, they taste awful. The rotten meat that vultures eat infuses bacteria into their bodies. These decomposing bacteria release toxic chemicals that make vultures meat not edible. So, eating a vulture means threatening your health.
It is worth mentioning that buzzards are protected bird species. Even if they taste good (which is unlikely), it is illegal to harm or kill them without a special permit.
Can You Eat Vultures?
If you ever had a chance to eat animals that feed on other animals, you’ll know that their meat has a strong smell and taste, and it is very unpleasant for many people.
So, imagine animals that eat other rotten animals. You better don’t think about how they might taste.
However, luckily for your taste buds, The Migratory Bird Treaty Act forbids capturing, killing, selling, or trading a wide range of birds, including vultures.
Although if you still have the desire to try vultures, it would be better for you to study the law first.
Related Article: Do People Eat Seagulls?
What do vultures taste like?
Based on their body’s smell, we can assume that buzzards must taste horrible. Their taste must be similar to the way they smell, so the bird which smells so bad can never taste good.
There are two main reasons vultures smell so bad. First, because of their diet, and second, they urinate on themselves. They do so to keep their bodies cool in hot weather. But it makes them smell even more badly.
Vulture meat probably tastes like owl meat. With an even more unpleasant taste.
Birds that munch on carcasses cannot be tasty.
Are vultures edible?
The most important factor that makes vultures not edible is the poison and bacteria present in their bodies because of eating the flesh of dead animals.
The meat of the dead animals contains decomposing bacteria, which release toxic chemicals in the body of vultures.
As a result, these toxic chemicals ingested in the form of buzzards can be highly contagious for human health.
So if you are not sure how to prepare and clear toxic animals, you better stay away from the carrion-eater birds. If not prepared properly, eating a vulture can cause serious health conditions, and in the worst conditions, it can lead to death.
Therefore, it’s better not to eat this poisonous bird.
Read Also: Can You Eat Toads?
Can you eat vulture eggs?
If you are looking for the answer is vulture eggs are edible, the answer is yes. Vulture eggs are fine, and you can eat them, and nothing will happen to you in terms of health.
But in terms of the law, if caught, you may get in trouble with the law.
Buzzard eggs are protected as well. As a result, harassing their nests, moving, or destroying the eggs is considered a felony.
Are vultures dangerous?
Even though buzzards pose a great threat to human health, these birds are not dangerous. In fact, they are helpful in many ways.
As vultures carry very toxic chemicals and strong poisonous acids in their stomachs, they can help to kill dangerous diseases like cholera, botulism, anthrax, and rabies.
Vultures eat a lot of dead bodies, which means they help in cleaning the environment and help stop the spread of diseases to people, wild animals, and livestock. They also eat a lot of small insects which also clean out the environment.
Vultures would never attack humans, as they don’t have the physical ability to harm or kill a human. So, if only we don’t eat vultures, they are good for our environment.
Final Thoughts
There are places in certain African countries where people eat vultures. However, we strongly recommend you not to eat this toxic bird. Besides their awful taste due to their feeding habits, they fall under protected bird species, so eating a vulture not only is an unpleasant experience but is also forbidden.
References
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service – Migratory Bird Program | Conserving America’s Birds (fws.gov)
https://answerstoall.com/popular/why-is-vulture-not-edible/