Vultures, hyenas, and other scavengers look ugly and may never win any popularity contests, but these misunderstood animals quietly play one of nature’s most vital roles, cleaning up rotting ...

Large scavengers like vultures and hyenas do an important job in protecting human health. But studies show these creatures are on the decline, allowing for the emergence of disease.

Large scavenger decline threatens ecosystems and boosts zoonotic disease spread, warns Stanford study. Protecting them is crucial for health.

Scavengers often get a bad rap — hyena giggles are nefarious, crows gather in “murders” and the naked necks of vultures speak for themselves. But the bodies of the dead don’t just disappear.