Michigan DNR advises residents to engage in ‘turkey hazing’ to deal with troublesome turkeys

ST. JOSEPH, Mi. — Wild turkeys are a typical sight in Michiana. In line with the DNR, teams of them, known as Rafters, primarily have a tendency to stay round borderlands, the place wooded and open, grassy areas have a tendency to satisfy.

However this time of yr, turkeys begin changing into extra energetic, and as mating season begins, male turkeys will begin seeking to specific their dominance and stake out territory, presumably proper the place you reside.

“They need to take over your neighborhood, and also you don’t need them to take over your neighborhood,” stated Michael Latus with the Michigan DNR.

Movies from Florida present turkeys chasing and harassing residents in a neighborhood. Whereas the DNR stated that whereas they haven’t any reported assaults in southwest Michigan but, they do say the birds ought to be unwelcome in residential neighborhoods. 

“Being mating season, they’re going to determine their territory and so they’re going to try to preserve you out of it,” stated Latus.

The DNR recommend residents carry out ‘turkey hazing’ to maintain them from making your yard their territory. 

Latus defined “You allow them to know you’re loud and noisy and obnoxious. You wave your fingers at them, you clap at them, then you definitely yell at them and also you stroll up in direction of them.”

This type of conduct will preserve turkeys from staying in your yard.

Nevertheless, if turkeys are discovered within the wild, folks ought to keep away from hazing them of their pure habitat. Latus stated that if they’re encountered within the wild or at a state park, they’ll possible not be that territorial. 

“As you get nearer to them, they’ll saunter quicker and quicker after which they’ll go away. I’ve not had a rafter of them activate me. They may at all times run away,” he stated.

Although if there are some troublesome turkeys in your neighborhood, Latus reminds that they are often dealt with comparatively simply.

“Typically you find yourself calling the DNR and a CO comes out and takes care of them or removes them, however for essentially the most half—it may be dealt with with simply the hazing,” he stated. 

Latus added that if yelling on the turkeys will not be working, a fast spray with a backyard hose or sprinklers also can do the trick. 

He additionally suggested that birdfeeders could possibly be attracting the turkeys, and on condition that avian influenza instances are on the rise– residents could need to take down their feeders.