​Maverick the black vulture (​Coragyps stratus) came to the ACCA in September, 2014, after being struck by a vehicle in the parking lot of a bar called Maverick's in Morgantown, WV. He suffered permanent damage to his shoulder and cannot return to the wild.

Maverick is a favorite with ACCA volunteers and staff. He readily interacts with human caretakers and his roommate, Vader the turkey vulture. Maverick enjoys puzzle feeders, plastic ball-pit balls, and other enrichment items, as well as "egg hunts" to find both plastic eggs filled with vulture treats and hard-boiled eggs, one of his favorite treats. Maverick also snacks on watermelon, salmon, and other less-typical foods for a black vulture. 

In addition to keeping our roadways and forests clear of dead and decaying animals, a black vulture’s gut can neutralizes dangerous pathogens; they are critically important to healthy ecosystems and help keep our environment clean.

For more information about this species: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black_Vulture/