Biology
The Ecology of Scavenging and Carrion Use in Vultures
Quick fact
Vultures have stomach acid 100 times more corrosive than that of a human, allowing them to safely consume carcasses infected with anthrax, botulism, and cholera that would kill other scavengers.
Why this is interesting
When an animal dies in the wild, it doesn't just rot away—a remarkable cleanup crew arrives. But how do vultures find these unpredictable feasts, and why do they eat meat that would make us sick?