You’ve opened the windows and doors to let in some fresh air because it’s a nice day and spring. You’re going about your business around the house when you hear the strange sound of feathers rustling from the living room, or maybe the entryway or kitchen.
You imagine a robin inadvertently flew in. Maybe one or two of the sparrows or finches that have been busy building nests near your house But when you look into it, you find a wild turkey. It could be a fully grown hen, a young jake or jennie, or a huge tom that is up to 3 feet tall and weighs up to 25 pounds.
Still, it happened twice in three days in April. First, a turkey broke into Lisa Spencer’s home in Newton. Then, another turkey got “afowl” of the law in Upton, where Officer Michael Goncalves helped get rid of the unwanted guest after it flew through a glass window.
After going for a walk on April 7, Spencer came home to find a door left open by accident. After closing the door, she went about her day until she came home to find an unexpected bird guest spending the night in her living room.
Not knowing what to do, she asked her Facebook friends for help by posting a short video of the turkey sitting on the window sill, bobbing its head, and looking out into the yard. This was visual proof that her story was not true.
“There is a turkey in my house, and I have no idea how he got in or how to get him out.” Or, for that matter, who you call to get the turkey out of your house. This is not a joke. What am I going to do?” she asked.
“The best thing to do is just try to herd it out of the house. Leave the door open and just herd it out of the house,” advised Rines. “Just try to make yourself big and try to keep yourself between the house and the turkey. It probably will go for the door anyway, since it doesn’t want to be there at all. “.
Wild turkeys can be aggressive and even dangerous, especially during mating season. If you find yourself being attacked by a turkey, it’s important to know how to properly respond to avoid injury and scare it off. This article provides tips on what to do if you encounter an aggressive turkey.
Why Turkeys Attack
Turkeys are naturally timid around humans. However, there are a few scenarios that can cause them to become aggressive and charge:
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Breeding behavior – Male turkeys become aggressive when trying to establish dominance and attract females in the spring. They will attack their own reflection.
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Defending territory – Mother turkeys defending their nests and poults will attack perceived threats
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Being fed – Turkeys that are used to being fed by humans can become aggressive about getting more food.
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Feeling threatened – Loud noises, pets, or sudden movements can trigger an attack if the turkey feels afraid
So turkeys don’t normally attack unprovoked. But during mating season, mother turkeys defending babies, or turkeys accustomed to being fed, their aggression is sparked more easily.
How to Respond During an Attack
If a turkey comes at you aggressively, here are the best ways to protect yourself:
Don’t run away or turn your back
This triggers their instinct to chase. Standing your ground signals you are not prey.
Appear big and loud
Wave your arms, open a jacket wide, or hold objects above your head. Yell and stomp your feet to scare them off.
Use “repellents”
Squirt aggressive turkeys with water hoses, bang pots and pans, blow an air horn, or shake a noisy can filled with pennies or pebbles.
Charge toward them
Run or lunge at the turkey if waving your arms and noise doesn’t deter them. This shows the turkey you are a threat, not a pushover.
Carry a “defense item”
Keep a broom, rake, stick or umbrella nearby when outdoors. Gently swatting or poking an attacking turkey can help shoo it away.
Stay calm
Don’t panic or flail your arms, which may provoke further attacks. Move slowly and deliberately to appear confident and in control.
Preventing Attacks from Happening
There are also some proactive things you can do to discourage turkeys from becoming aggressive in the first place:
- Don’t feed wild turkeys or leave pet food outdoors
- Remove bird feeders turkeys may feed under
- Use fencing to block turkeys from gardens and yards
- Scare off turkeys that loiter on your property
- Cover windows and reflections turkeys may attack
- Call animal control if aggressive turkeys won’t leave
Stopping problematic turkey behavior before it escalates is ideal. Keep feedindg sources secured, block access to territory, and boldly scare off any lingering turkeys.
When to Call for Help
If a turkey attacks and won’t retreat despite your efforts, seek assistance. Call animal control or wildlife management authorities. They can capture and relocate aggressive turkeys when needed.
Also get medical care if an attack results in injuries. Turkeys have sharp talons and beaks that can scratch or puncture skin. Bacteria from their claws can cause infections. Seek treatment for wounds and get a tetanus shot if you haven’t had one in the past 10 years.
Staying Safe Around Turkeys
With some smart precautions, turkey attacks are avoidable. Follow these tips when wild turkeys are present:
- Give turkeys plenty of space and don’t approach
- Avoid areas with nests or young poults
- Don’t let children feed or chase turkeys
- Keep dogs leashed so they don’t provoke an attack
- Exit the area if turkeys display aggressive postures
- Report any turkeys acting disturbingly tame or aggressive
Remaining alert and not triggering defensive behaviors are your best protections. By understanding turkey body language, you can steer clear of trouble.
Handling an Attack Properly
If a turkey does strike, stay calm. Making loud noises, looking large, charging at them, or using brooms or water to herd them along are highly effective deterrents. Standing your ground while implementing scare tactics will likely convince the turkey you’re not a pushover. But act swiftly to avoid injury if the turkey seems relentless. Don’t be afraid to call professionals to remove a truly problematic turkey for public safety. With proper precautions, you can avoid dangerous turkey encounters and enjoy observing these fascinating birds from a distance.
Turkeys can get hot and bothered
People may start to notice more bold or aggressive turkey behavior at this time of year, Rines said.
During breeding season, in March, April, and May, turkeys are most likely to act aggressively. This means that some turkeys may act aggressively or completely ignore people when they are around. In short, as Rines describes their behavior, “being bizarre. “.
Rines said that “the male is not very active after he has made babies,” but Stolarski says that until then, the males can be seen “strutting their stuff” by puffing out their feathers and fanning their tails. “.
“Turkeys are leaving their big winter flocks and crossing roads more often at this time of year.” “Turkeys may stand, walk, or pacing back and forth in the middle of busy highways, dodging cars and blocking traffic,” says Stolarski.
Spencer finally got the bird to leave her home in Newton, but not before it left droppings all over the living room and broke a picture window when it tried to get out through the glass.
“I opened a door to my patio and waddled her bird butt out the door,” she said. “We have turkey gangs in my neighborhood and they’re always gathering on my front lawn. Not aggressive. Just hanging out and pooping along with their bird cousins, the Canada geese. “.
“I think it’s safe to say that the vast majority of people will not have to deal with a turkey inside their home,” Stolarski said. “.
Wild turkey do’s and don’ts
If you want to make your property less attractive to turkeys, there are certain practices to follow. Also, it’s important that everyone in the neighborhood follows the same steps. If they don’t, “your efforts will be futile if neighbors feed or house turkeys or fail to act boldly toward the birds.” “.
DON’T FEED TURKEYS: Keep wildlife wild. Turkeys may act tame when they are fed, but they may also act brave or aggressive when they are fed, especially during the breeding season.
KEEP BIRD FEEDER AREAS CLEAN: Use feeders that keep seed off the ground because wild animals like turkeys and other birds like to eat it. Remove feeders in the spring, as there are plenty of natural foods available for all birds.
DO NOT ALLOW TURKEYS TO FRIGHTEN YOU: If you see a bold, angry turkey, don’t be afraid to scare or threaten it with loud noises, swatting it with a broom, or water sprayed from a hose.
COVER WINDOWS AND SHINY OBJECTS: Turkeys may respond aggressively to shiny objects and their own reflection. If a turkey is pecking at a shiny object, cover or disguise the object.
PROTECT YOUR GARDENS AND CROPS: Turkeys can be scared away from gardens by tethering dogs to a run. Netting is another option to employ.
It’s Wild Turkey Mating Season: What To Do If You’re Attacked
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