Residents in the quiet town of Hillsborough, North Carolina, are embroiled in a bitter conflict after a couple encouraged hundreds of vultures to roost on their roof, sparking chaos in the streets. Ken and Linda Ostrand, who have a deep affection for the birds, regularly feed them scraps of leftover meat and carcasses in their backyard. However, their neighbors are far less enamored, complaining that the vultures damage roof shingles with their talons and leave unsightly excrement on sidewalks.
Legal Action Ensues
The two-year dispute escalated into a court battle earlier this year, with a complaint filed on March 17 by several residents represented by the Town of Hillsborough. The petition accuses the Ostrands of violating the Town Code, which prohibits feeding wildlife or placing attractant materials outdoors. The plaintiffs are seeking a court order directing the couple to cease and desist from attracting the birds by leaving out food.
Neighbors' Grievances
Michael Beanland, who moved next door in 2020, told the Hillsborough Board of Commissioners that the Ostrands initially claimed the vultures were migratory. However, the birds have become a permanent nuisance, spilling into his yard, damaging his roof, and coating the pavement with droppings. He also found leftover food scraps, including meat trays and chicken bones, which posed risks to his dog and children. The situation reached a breaking point in 2022 when several dead vultures, struck by disease, were found in his yard.
The Ostrands' Perspective
The Ostrands maintain that the vultures were already attracted to their property when they bought it in 2017, drawn by the large, sunny yard surrounded by tall trees. They began feeding the birds after a deer died on their property and they needed to dispose of it. Linda Ostrand, a former wildlife rehabilitator, described vultures as "nature's garbage cleaners" and emphasized their ecological role. Ken Ostrand admitted to feeding only two injured vultures, named Chester and Morticia, after ceasing general feeding.
The legal complaint alleges that as recently as early February 2026, Ken Ostrand was observed placing food scraps on the ground, prompting vultures to swarm. The couple has reportedly named specific vultures that regularly visit. The case highlights the tension between wildlife appreciation and neighborhood harmony.
