BARTOW, Fla., May 26 (UPI) -- A vulture infestation makes home sales in Bartow, Fla., even more difficult in this tough economy, the Orlando Sentinel reported Tuesday.
"Something has to be done to get them (vultures) out of here. They're getting destructive," homeowner Inga Moffatt said.
The birds damage houses and automobiles, and the stench from their waste is overpowering, said resident James Bruce, who said he has seen no improvement after complaining to city officials last year. He recently contacted U.S. Rep. Adam Putnam's office, whose staff said they're working on the problem.
City Attorney Sean Parker said Bartow's officials purchased motion-sensor sprinklers to help scare away the vultures. Bruce said the measure uses a lot of water for a temporary relief.
Bird experts say that vultures sometimes settle in neighborhoods, but are migratory. Bruce, however, said 150 to 200 vultures are year-round residents, joined by several hundred more during the winter.
