Vultures creeping out N.C. town

SHELBY, N.C., Feb. 17 (UPI) -- A swarm of turkey vultures has been making residents of Shelby, N.C., uneasy, as they have not migrated south due to a mild winter.

The birds normally pass through the town every year as they head south. However, this year they decided to stick around, ABCNews.com reported.

"We are just not getting cold enough to push them along," Kristen Duren, an intern with the North Carolina Cooperative Extension, the state agriculture service. "What used to be five to 10 birds is going up to 150 birds."

Residents say the sight of the birds is make them nervous, WSOC-TV, Charlotte, N.C., reported.

"Just circling in like big, big packs and they are like big, big birds," said resident Jordan Walker.

"It makes me feel kind of creepy," said neighbor Ann McEntire.

State law forbids shooting the birds, but officials said scarecrows made to look like a dead bird could chase the vultures away.