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turkeys in urban areas may have originated from hand-fed stock and the DNR does not want to risk them "contaminating" the genetics of true wild turkeys. Although many cities do not wish to resort to killing wild turkeys, the DNR considers nuisance turkeys to be counter-productive to their restoration efforts and thus recommends lethal control if individual measures prove ineffective. The DNR most often practices population control through the granting of state turkey hunting licenses. Such permits are plentiful, though the number of applicants regularly exceeds the number of permits available. As of 2005, the DNR offered a total 31,784 turkey hunting permits compared to a total of 49,181 applicants. Additionally, few people will hunt in urban areas due to the prevalence of local ordinances prohibiting firearm discharge. While some hunters may resort to archery, this is often ineffective, as DNR statistics show only one in every four to five licensed hunters actually register a kill. State statute 97B.657 also allows peace officers, such as police, to kill wild animals (turkeys included) when they pose a danger to public safety as long as the death is reported to a conservation officer within 48 hours. Through state statute 97A.401, the DTTR also may grant cities special permits to eliminate wild animals for the "purpose of preventing or reducing damage or injury to people, property, agricultural crops or other interests." The City of St. Louis Park is one example, receiving their permit in December 2009, allowing a maximum of 40 turkeys to be killed. The City utilized their own police force since they could legally discharge firearms in the city limits and when killed, the turkeys are donated to the Second Harvest Food Shelf.3 Other cities that have received a special permit (per the DNR) in past years include Maplewood, White Bear Lake and Shorewood. The City of Shoreview has just recently been granted a special permit by the DTTR to eliminate up to 75 turkeys and approved a contact for removal services at their March 1 St, 2010, City Council meeting. The City is also considering revising their local ordinance prohibiting the feeding of wildlife to further regulate the placement and/or use of bird feeders.4 A copy of the Staff Report that was presented to the Shoreview City Council (dated February 22, 2010) is included as Attachment B. The decision was met with some controversy as several residents appealed to the City to avoid killing the turkeys. Attachment C is an article from the Shoreview Post on March 2, 2010, following the vote to proceed with the removal contract. Attachments A. E-mail from Concerned Resident dated February 23, 2010 B. City of Shoreview Staff Report on Turkey Control dated February 22, 2010. C. Article from the Shoreview Post dated March 2, 2010. 3 This information is provided courtesy of Mark Oestreich, the Nature Center Manager at Westwood Hills Nature Center in the City of St. Louis Park. 4 This information is provided courtesy of Terry Schwerm, City Manager of the City of Shoreview. City ofArden Hills City Council Regular Meeting for March 8, 2010 Page 3 of 3