CUJO

Species: Coragyps atratus, Black Vulture   •   Hatch Year: 2004    •   Sex: Female   •   Disability: Human Imprint

Cujo was found playing with children in Sevierville, TN before she came to the AEF and was deemed a human imprint. Fortunately, her playful nature has never left her, as she is easily entertained by roaming the AEF bird barn, flying glove to glove, and doing jump ups for daily enrichment.

ABOUT THIS SPECIES

Vultures often build their nests on the ground, and as one of the most intelligent and curious raptors in America, chicks like to explore their surroundings. Vultures can be found hovering above farmlands, forests, plains, and roadways searching and scavenging for dead animals (and sometimes vegetation) to dine on. Many people think that Vultures are ugly, but they are actually very beautiful and graceful when soaring through the sky!

Vultures do not have a voice box like other raptors. A hissing or grunting sound is the only vocal noise a vulture will make. In addition to hissing, a vulture will sometimes throw up on a potential threat, a defense mechanism called ‘projectile vomiting.’