Let's Talk Turkey!

When people think of Thanksgiving, they often think of spending time with family, expressing gratitude for the fall harvest and other things, and for many, turkey. Most people aren't thinking about pests, but UC IPM always is! The pests we are thinking about this Thanksgiving are turkeys.

Wild turkeys.

Wild turkey populations have exploded in some urban areas of California, causing problems in landscapes while they are searching for food, posing traffic hazards when crossing streets or walking in the road, and in some cases, chasing or harassing people. Turkeys can become more aggressive during the breeding season, occasionally even charging, threatening, and acting aggressively toward people.

Prevent problems by discouraging wild turkeys from becoming too comfortable on your property or community.

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  Turkeys in traffic. [J. Farrar]
  Do not feed turkeys. In fact, it is illegal in California to feed wildlife.
• Removing bird feeders may be helpful in reducing turkeys or other pests that might be feeding on the seeds.
• Install motion-detecting sprinklers to deter turkeys from foraging in your yard (sprinklers work for some other vertebrate pests as well).
• Wild turkeys typically will not enter yards with dogs.
• If confronted by an aggressive or persistent wild turkey, an open umbrella or walking stick may help steer it out of your path.
• Be careful when encountering turkeys in the roadway and avoid sudden stops or swerves that may cause an accident.

Read more about wild turkeys in California and other control measures at https://www.wildlife.ca.gov/Keep-Me-Wild/Wild-Turkey

Turkeys and other fowl can be useful in reducing pests like slugs, snails and cockroaches, but if you have a turkey population in your area, it's best to not encourage them.

Happy Thanksgiving!