Game Species Management and Ecosystem Health: Leveraging Vulture Scavenging to Improve Carcass Disposal and Health Risk Reduction

Avian scavengers, particularly vultures, play a crucial role in ecosystem health by efficiently consuming carcasses, thereby reducing pathogen abundance and limiting disease transmission to wildlife, livestock, and humans. In addition to the indispensable role of vultures, they are a particularly threatened group of birds. This study investigates the environmental factors that optimize this ecosystem service by examining the scavenging dynamics of vultures and other species at deer carcasses in a hunting area in Sierra Madrona, Ciudad Real, Spain. Carcasses were placed in habitats with different vegetation densities (open vs. dense) and altitudes (high vs. low) and were monitored for 30 days using camera traps. Data on scavenger diversity, arrival times, and carcass persistence were analyzed using Bayesian multilevel models. Results reveal that vegetation density and altitude significantly influence vulture arrival times and carcass duration, with dense vegetation and low altitudes delaying scavenger access. These findings provide actionable insights for game management to enhance vulture conservation and improve both public and ecosystem health through timely and effective carcass removal.