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Living with wildlife: Turkey: Minnesota. DNR <br />http://www.dnr.sta.te.mn.us/livingwith wildlife/turkeys/index.htrnl <br />_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ______ _ __ _ <br />natural food available for all birds. <br />■ Do not allow turkeys to be comfortable in the presence of people; chase turkeys <br />away from your residence. Don't let turkeys intimidate you. Don't hesitate to <br />scare or threaten a bold, aggressive turkey with loud noises, swatting with a <br />broom or water sprayed firom a hose. A dog on a leash is also an effiective <br />deterrent. <br />■ Cover windows or other reflective objects If a turkey is pecking at a shiny <br />object such as a vehicle or window, cover or otherwise disguise the object. <br />Harass the bird by chasing it, squirting with a hose or other means of <br />aggression. <br />■ Protect your gardens and crops. You can harass turkeys searching for food in <br />your gardens. Dogs tethered on a run can also be effective in scaring turkeys <br />away from gardens. Netting is another option to employ. In agricultural <br />situations, some scare devices are effective. Motion activated sprinklers are <br />available which can sometimes be effective. <br />■ Educate your neighbors. Pass this information along : Your efforts will be futile <br />if neighbors are providing food for turkeys or neglecting to act boldly towards <br />the birds. It requires the efforts of the entire neighborhood to help keep wild <br />turkeys wild. Turkeys are important and valuable birds in Minnesota. They are <br />classified as game birds for which regulated hunting seasons and management <br />prograrr�s have been established. If you are experiencing problems with turkeys <br />or have any questions regarding them, contact your r� �t � <br />i� �i°�� i� or � r�� �t � I�� ��� r�� � additional advice on <br />dealing with these birds. <br />,� . � . <br />�� <br />Remember that wild turkeys have a"pecking order" and that habituated birds may <br />respond to you as they do to another turkey. The best defense against aggressive or <br />persistent turkeys is to prevent the birds from becoming habituated in the first place <br />by being bold to them. Everyone in the neighborhood must do the same; it will be <br />ineffective if you do so only on your property. Each and every turkey must view all <br />humans as dominant in the pecking order and respond to them as superiors rather <br />than subjects. Habituated turkeys may attempt to dominate or attack people that the <br />birds view as subordinates. <br />f Adult humans rnay drive off or deter these aggressive birds with bold action by <br />forcefully fending them off with brooms or other non-injurious implements. However, <br />the turkey may then recognize that individual as dominant but continue to respond to <br />other people as subordinates. <br />■ Turkeys which repeatedly challenge or attack children or elderly persons or <br />otherwise threaten public safety may ultimately have to be destroyed. Keep turkeys <br />wild to avoid these consequences. <br />■ Trapping and relocating "nuisance" turkeys is not an option. The methods used to <br />trap turkeys in remote areas are often impractical or ineffective in urban or <br />suburban areas due to safety or disturbance. Released turkeys may also continue <br />their inappropriate actions where they are released or may move substantial <br />. distances to other suburban sites. <br />. <br />� <br />� Some wild turkeys, especially in spring and <br />early summer, choose to stand, walk, or <br />pace back-and-forth in the center of busy <br />2 of 3 3/25/2010 10:27 AM <br />