The mayor of Louiseville, Yvon Deshaies, welcomed last week the slaughter of a wild turkey which would have frightened citizens in a residential sector of his municipality. However, it is prohibited in Quebec to kill a wild animal in such circumstances.
The video of a citizen who appears to be charged by a wild turkey quickly went viral last week, to the point where the mayor of Louiseville called for the animal’s head, saying he feared for the safety of residents. The bird was shot the next day by someone allegedly using a slingshot. “He did not suffer,” according to Mr. Deshaies.
In the context where wild turkeys are increasingly present in the south of the province, many have wondered if this action was legal. Bottom line: probably not.
Concretely, it is prohibited in Quebec to kill, capture or relocate a wild animal, since they are protected under the Act respecting the conservation and development of wildlife.
Article 67 of this legislation also specifies that “a person or the one who lends him assistance cannot kill or capture an animal which attacks him or which causes damage to his property or to those in his care or is responsible for maintenance when it can scare away this animal or prevent it from causing damage.
This means, for example, that if a turkey, a marmot or a white-tailed deer comes to feed on the plants or shrubs present on your land, or in your garden, it is prohibited to kill this animal or capture it for move it.
If a person slaughters an animal like the Louiseville turkey, they are liable to a fine of up to several thousand dollars. However, the Quebec Ministry of the Environment has not ruled on last week’s high-profile case.
According to information posted on the ministry’s page dedicated to the species, “turkeys are usually frightened by light and sudden sounds. As with other birds, the best option is to scare them away before they get into the habit of frequenting private land.” And as these birds “move more often by walking than by flying, installing fences around homes is an effective measure”.
We add that “the slaughter or relocation of turkeys are not adequate solutions to reduce the inconvenience caused by certain individuals”.
Successful hunt
Although it is forbidden to kill a turkey that may seem threatening to us, sport hunting in Quebec is increasingly popular and successful, as the wild turkey population grows in the province.
According to the most recent official government statistics, 9,359 turkeys were killed in spring 2023 and 352 during the fall hunting period. The majority of birds were shot with a rifle, but some hunters opt instead for a bow or crossbow. The 2023 spring hunting season attracted “a record number of fans”, with 22,653 permits sold, specifies the Quebec Ministry of the Environment.
According to the indicators used by the ministry to monitor the state of populations in hunting zones, in particular hunter observations and hunting success, “wild turkey populations are doing well in the regions where they have established themselves.”
In the past, the species was hunted very intensively, so much so that it practically disappeared from the United States and was eliminated from Quebec territory. Reintroduction efforts, combined with the presence of suitable habitats, have allowed this bird, which can reach nearly 10 kg, to regain ground. In Quebec, it lives mainly in the south of the province in the regions of Montérégie, Estrie, Centre‑du‑Québec, Outaouais and Chaudière‑Appalaches, but its distribution gradually extends towards the north and east.