​Maverick the black vulture (​Coragyps atratus) 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 roommates, Vader the turkey vulture and "little sister" Bliss the black 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/