Scavenger Animals Are in Trouble, and That Could Spell Bad News for Human Health [View all]

Scavenger Animals Are in Trouble, and That Could Spell Bad News for Human Health
More than one-third of species that eat some amount of carrion are threatened or declining, a new analysis finds, and that could lead to a rise in zoonotic diseases

Sarah Kuta June 18, 2025



Scavengers are in trouble—and their decline could be harmful to human health.

With many of these creatures that feast on dead animals struggling to survive, scientists say their downfall could lead to a rise in infectious diseases among humans, according to a paper published Monday in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

For the study, researchers looked at 1,376 vertebrate species known to eat some amount of carrion, ranging from tiger sharks and spotted hyenas to cane toads and common shrews. When they investigated each animal’s status on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, they found that 36 percent are threatened or decreasing in number.

When the team dug even deeper into the data, a more nuanced picture emerged. Large species and those that rely on carrion for survival tend to be imperiled, while smaller species and those that scavenge occasionally are thriving.

Obligate scavengers, or those that only consume carrion, are especially vulnerable. Half of the 17 obligate scavenger species included in the study are considered “vulnerable” or “critically endangered” by the IUCN.......................





Turkey vulture perching
Scavengers like turkey vultures remove millions of tons of waste each year by consuming carrion. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service