Destructive vultures won't leave house

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va., July 1 (UPI) -- Federal wildlife officials said they will consult with a Virginia Beach, Va., man whose home has been targeted by a group of vultures.

Will Ciccone said all of his attempts to keep the vultures away from his property have failed and the birds have destroyed three grill covers, a hot tub cover, a pool cover and several chair cushions belonging to his family, The (Norfolk) Virginian-Pilot reported Tuesday.

Ciccone said he tried rigging a paintball gun to fire at the birds and he displayed fake owls outside his home, but the vultures quickly adapted to his attempts and continued to congregate in his yard.

"If you've got cockroach problems, you kill them. If you've got ant problems, you kill them," he said. "I've got this problem, but I can't do anything about it."

State wildlife officials have the authority to ward off the birds using non-lethal means, but Scott Barras, director of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Wildlife Services, said those solutions are often temporary.

Only federal officials have the authority to use lethal means to get rid of the birds. Barras said his department plans to meet with the Ciccones and local authorities to find a solution to the vulture problem.