Wild turkeys are an important natural resource in Massachusetts. They are classified as game birds, for which a management program and regulated hunting seasons have been established.
How do you get rid of turkeys on your property?
Scare away problem turkeys
It’s easy to scare turkeys away by making noises (try waving your arms and yelling or blowing a whistle), popping open an umbrella, throwing tennis balls, or dousing the turkey with water from a hose or squirt gun. A leashed dog may also be effective in scaring a turkey away.
Are turkeys a protected species?
As upland game birds, wild turkeys are not a federally protected species under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act but are protected by state law in North Carolina. Turkeys are a big game species. What is the common damage caused by turkeys?
Why are there so many turkeys in Massachusetts?
The state’s wild turkey population has jumped exponentially since the 1970s when MassWildlife biologists trapped 37 turkeys in New York and released them in the Berkshires. The new flock grew, and by the fall of 1978, the estimated population was about 1,000 birds.
Where can I hunt turkey in Massachusetts?
Top Bay State counties for registering turkeys typically include Berkshire, Franklin, Plymouth, and Worcester. To hunt legally, an official safety sticker (which comes with the turkey permit) must be placed on your gun so that it’s visible when sighting down the barrel.
What are turkeys eating in my lawn?
Offer Seeds and Browse: Turkeys browse on plant buds and shoots in the early spring and feed off fern fronds, club mosses, and weeds such as burdock, especially when there is a lot of snow cover and other foods are hard to find. Grasses, sedges and many wildflowers provide wild turkeys with seeds to eat.
Will moth balls keep turkeys away?
Observational studies have been done where biologists would test turkeys with piles of corn that contained moth balls. What they learned is that the off-putting smell from the moth balls didn’t bother the birds at all, as they were just as likely to eat from those piles of corn as regular piles of corn.
Is it illegal to feed wild turkeys in MA?
While feeding wildlife is not illegal in Massachusetts, supplemental feeding can: Habituate animals to humans and eventually lead to problematic and aggressive animal behaviors; Congregate wildlife into unnaturally high densities, thus increasing the risk of disease spread among wildlife (e.g., mange, avian pox);
Why are there so many turkeys in Boston?
After becoming extinct in Massachusetts in the 19th century, wild turkeys were reintroduced in the Berkshires in the 1970s. It worked. They spread — to the point that Brookline, a town far denser than most American cities, has become a vibrant habitat for feral poultry.
What do you do with an aggressive wild turkey?
Once bold behavior is established, it can be very difficult to change. 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.
Where do turkeys sleep at night?
trees
Wild turkeys sleep in trees. The birds are usually seen walking so many people are surprised they even fly. Though they only fly for short distances, they are speedy and can hit about 55 miles per hour when going full tilt.
When were turkeys reintroduced to Massachusetts?
Fast-forward to 1972, when the MA Division of Fisheries and Wildlife (now known as Mass Wildlife), in cooperation with the University of Massachusetts, received permission to live-trap turkeys in New York state and release them in Massachusetts. Between 1972 and 1973, a total of 37 birds were released.
What do you do if you see a wild turkey?
Feeding turkeys during harsh winter months is generally not recommended nor needed. What should you do if you see one? “Turkeys should be treated like all wildlife — observe and enjoy them from a distance,” said a spokesperson for the NJ Division of Fish & Wildlife.
Can I shoot a turkey on my property Massachusetts?
Under Mass. General Law 131, Section 37, a property owner or tenant of land may hunt or take by other means, except by poison or snare, any mammal which he finds damaging his property, provided that such killing is not contrary to any federal law or regulation.
Can you shoot a turkey in Massachusetts?
To hunt turkey in Massachusetts you must have the appropriate license and permits, which you can buy through MassFishHunt. Massachusetts residents: Hunting or Sporting License. Turkey permit.
Is there a turkey hunting season in Massachusetts?
Find regulations related to licenses, permits, and reporting, as well as turkey harvest data and tips for hunters. There are 2 turkey hunting seasons, one in the spring and one in the fall. Use the pages below to learn about regulations for licensing, permits, and reporting.
Do turkeys spread ticks?
Wild turkeys can be beneficial because they eat ticks that are on the ground, in the grass, in low vegetation and even ones on their own bodies during self-grooming. Even though these birds are also tick hosts (i.e., ticks latch onto them), they tend to eliminate more ticks than they spread.
Are turkeys good for 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.
Do turkeys destroy your lawn?
Unfortunately, their relative harmlessness may not extend to your yard and 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.
What are wild turkeys afraid of?
Noises and Other Disturbances
As a result of sharing space with hawks, raccoons and the occasional badger, turkeys have developed an instinctive avoidance of loud noises. You can take advantage of this aversion by making some kind of noisemaker that will be loud enough to spook the birds from across the lawn.
Will cayenne pepper deter turkeys?
Cayenne Pepper to Repel Birds
Just like with the chili pepper spray, you can mix cayenne pepper with water to keep birds and other animals away from your plants. Animals can’t stand the smell of cayenne pepper and will steer well clear of any areas that have been sprayed with this mixture.