WALLAND, TN – Federal authorities are investigating a disturbing discovery after 33 dead black vultures were found dumped along a scenic roadway within the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
The Discovery on Foothills Parkway
National Park Service (NPS) rangers located the large group of birds at approximately noon on April 6. The carcasses were found along the side of the road on Foothills Parkway West, in the stretch between Chilhowee and Walland.
Rangers have determined that the birds did not die of natural causes at that spot but were illegally dumped there.
A Federally Protected Species
Black vultures are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918. This federal law strictly prohibits the killing, capturing, or transporting of these birds without a specific permit from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
In addition to the bird protection laws, officials noted that dumping any material within a national park is a criminal offense.
Public Assistance Needed
Investigators are now searching for leads and asking anyone who was traveling on the Foothills Parkway on April 6 to come forward. Specifically, authorities are looking for:
- Dashcam footage from vehicles in the Chilhowee/Walland area that day.
- Photos or suspicious activity reports near the Parkway.
- Anonymous tips regarding anyone seen transporting large numbers of birds.
Information can be shared anonymously through the National Park Service’s official tip channels.
