Wild Turkey Control Managing Wild Turkey Pests In Gardens

How do I get rid of wild turkeys in my garden?

Protect your garden from turkeys

Still, you can keep wild turkeys from feasting on your garden or shrubs by using a motion-activated scare device (such as a Scarecrow Motion-Activated Sprinkler) or by protecting plants and vegetables with hardware cloth.

What do you do if a wild turkey attacks you?

MassWildlife recommends covering the reflection if possible. Finally, experts say you should call police or animal control immediately if you think a turkey could be a public safety threat. You'll need a permit to kill wild turkeys that are causing property damage. To get a permit, contact a Regional CDFW office.

Will wild turkeys eat my garden?

In their quest for the insects that make up part of their diet, turkeys will scratch around in your grass and through your flowerbeds. Their big feet can do a lot of incidental damage. They eat greens, too, and they don't limit themselves to dandelions when your garden has so many goodies in it.

How do you handle aggressive turkeys?

Don't hesitate to scare or threaten a bold, aggressive turkey with loud noises, swatting with a broom or water sprayed from a hose. A dog on a leash is also an effective deterrent. Turkeys that repeatedly challenge or attack people may ultimately have to be destroyed.

Can I kill a turkey in my yard?

Hunting turkeys helps to control their populations and maintain their natural wariness of people. Where safe and legal, hunt wild turkeys on your property, or allow others to hunt them. A hunting license and upland game bird stamp are required. Legal methods of take include shotgun, archery equipment, or air rifle.

Will turkeys come back if you spook them?

Many hunters believe that if you call a turkey in and spook it, you'll never call it in again. This is not true. Give the turkey time to settle down and switch calls and calling positions to bring the bird back. The breeding season is short and gobblers won't let a little scare slow them down for long.

How do I stop my turkey from pecking each other?

Allow the birds to use up their energy in an enclosed outside run. This will keep the birds busy and allow them to peck greens, ground and insects instead of other birds. Give the birds a large handful of fresh greens like clover grass or weeds, each day.

Can a turkey kill a dog?

Turkey Skin

Turkey skin itself isn't toxic to dogs, however it can have adverse effects. The high fat content of the skin can be hard on a dog's stomach, leading to stomach pain and possible pancreatitis. Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas, giving your dog severe abdominal pain and vomiting.

Do wild turkeys fight to the death?

Male turkeys are extremely aggressive amongst themselves during the breeding season, and well-matched toms may fight to the death over access to females.

What are turkeys afraid of?

Wild turkeys notice even the smallest changes in their surroundings and are frightened by unusual, unidentifiable objects. Predator kites flying from tall poles are known to scare off turkeys. Waving your hands in the air or opening an umbrella will startle turkeys into a run.

Are turkeys bad for your yard?

Damage and Messes: Turkeys are quite strong and can easily damage small feeders. As they explore a yard or garden, they can also damage young plants, garden produce, patio furniture, or decorative items.

What are turkeys eating in my yard?

Foods They Eat

Acorns, hickory nuts, beechnuts, or walnuts, either cracked open or swallowed whole. Seeds and grain, including spilled birdseed or corn and wheat in agricultural fields. Berries, wild grapes, crabapples, and other small fruits. Small reptiles including lizards and snakes.

Are turkeys aggressive to humans?

Wild turkeys that adapt to urban or suburban communities, especially young and mature males during the breeding season, can become quite aggressive towards people. Rarely do they cause serious damage, although they often will chase and harass children.

Do wild turkeys eat ticks?

According to Wild Birds Unlimited, an adult turkey is one of the most voracious tick predators around, and an individual may eat 200 or more of these little critters in a given day. The Tick Encounter Resource Center reported that many species of bird feast on parasites.

Why do wild turkeys gobble?

Answer: Only male turkeys, or toms, can gobble, and they mostly do it in the spring and fall. It is a mating call and attracts the hens. Wild turkeys gobble at loud sounds and when they settle in for the night.

Do wild turkeys roost in the same tree every night?

They Roost

Turkeys may use traditional roost sites night after night but they generally use different sites and move from tree to tree. Turkeys usually select the largest trees available and roost as high in them as they can comfortably perch.

Is it legal to shoot a turkey in a tree?

In many states, it's illegal. In turkey hunting the idea of "fair chase" generally involves scouting and finding roosted turkeys. ... We then set up close enough not to spook them, but far enough away so they can hear our calls.

Is it illegal to have a wild turkey?

Answer: There is nothing illegal about selling or purchasing domestic poultry sold as wild turkeys. However, it is not legal to release wild turkeys that have been domestically reared for propagation or hunting purposes.

What time of day are turkeys most active?

General Weather Conditions: As a general rule of thumb, turkeys are most active during calm, clear days in morning and early afternoon hours. Turkey activity generally decreases with bad weather conditions including wind and rain.

When should you gobble at a turkey?

Just setup two or more decoys in an open area and wait. As a rule turkeys gobble best on clear, calm, high-pressure mornings in the spring. Stand on a ridge or bluff at dawn and you're apt to hear birds gobbling a mile or more away in all directions.

Will turkeys gobble in the rain?

RAINY DAYS

Not all wet days affect turkeys the same way. Some rainy conditions actually make turkeys gobble more, whereas others shut them up. ... On the other hand, a steady rain, especially a cold one, shuts gobbling down. Turkeys sit longer on the roost.