Birds & oddities — eagles, geese, vultures, armadillos, and other surprises

Once rare, bald eagles have bounced back, and in winter you can see hundreds of them gathered along the Missouri and Mississippi rivers and the state's big lakes. MDC even hosts Eagle Days events in winter where you can watch them with experts and spotting scopes.

Bald eagles are federally protected — not only by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act but by the stricter Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, so disturbing a nest, or even possessing a feather, is a serious federal offense. The only thing you need to do is enjoy them. Watch from a distance, use binoculars or a camera, and never disturb a nest — getting too close can drive the parents off their eggs or young.

Many Canada geese no longer migrate; they live here year-round on golf courses, ponds, and parks, where their droppings and crowding make them a nuisance. In spring, the males (ganders) guard the nest and goslings and can get aggressive — hissing, charging, and flapping at anyone who comes too close.

The kind thing and the safe thing are the same: give them room, don't approach the goslings, and don't feed them (feeding only keeps more geese around). Because they're protected migratory birds, removing or controlling them often requires a permit, so check with MDC before taking any action.

Turkey vultures, the big dark birds you see riding the wind, are harmless cleanup crew — they eat things that are already dead. Black vultures are becoming more common in southern Missouri, and they behave a little differently: they sometimes damage property (pecking at roofs, vehicles, and rubber seals) and, rarely, can harm newborn or weak livestock.

Black vultures are still federally protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, so you can't legally kill them on your own. Lethal control requires a federal migratory-bird depredation permit, issued by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. In Missouri, the simplest path for a livestock owner is a sub-permit through the Missouri Farm Bureau, which holds a statewide master permit; USDA-APHIS Wildlife Services can also help. Pursue a permit through those channels rather than acting on your own.

Hawks, owls, and other birds of prey are all protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. They're good to have around: a single hawk or owl eats a lot of mice, rats, and voles over a year.

Now and then a raptor will eye a small pet, a chick, or a backyard chicken. The answer isn't to harm the bird — it's to protect your animals with secure housing: a covered run for poultry, and supervision for very small pets when raptors are active in the area.

The nine-banded armadillo has been expanding northward in Missouri. Most of the time it's just a lawn pest, rooting up grass and mulch overnight as it hunts for grubs and insects.

One caution worth knowing: armadillos are among the few animals that can carry the bacteria that cause leprosy (also called Hansen's disease). The risk to people is low — but to stay on the safe side, don't handle armadillos, alive or dead, with your bare hands. Use gloves and a tool if you ever need to move one, and check with your Department of Health and Senior Services (DHSS) if you have health questions.

Feral hogs are not native to Missouri, and they cause serious damage to land, crops, and native wildlife. Missouri's strategy is to trap whole groups (called sounders) at once — and that's why, on most public land, the rule is don't shoot them. Shooting one scatters the group and undoes the trapping work, which makes the problem worse.

If you see feral hogs or their damage, report the sighting to MDC rather than going after them yourself. The Hunting hub at /hunting/ has more on how Missouri handles feral hogs. Keep your distance — a cornered hog can be dangerous.

In the water, a snapping turtle wants nothing to do with you and will simply swim away. On land it can't retreat into its shell, so it defends itself with a strong, fast bite. The fix is easy: don't pick it up.

If one is crossing a road and you want to help, never grab it by the tail (that can hurt its spine). Instead, use a flat object — like a shovel or a car mat — to gently nudge or slide it along in the direction it was already headed. Sending it back the way it came just means it'll try to cross again.