Responding to the call from his mayor, a resident of Louiseville killed yesterday with two slingshots the aggressive turkey who sowed terror in the municipality by running after a man, thus taking the risk of having a hefty fine to defend his own.
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“It is completely forbidden to kill a turkey at this time of year,” immediately emphasizes Michel Baril, biologist at the Quebec Federation of Hunters and Fishermen.
“Someone who kills in self-defense, for example like the one who was being chased, would never have a problem with wildlife. Officers exercise good judgment. But if the hunter was not in danger, he might receive a visit from the agents,” continues the biologist.
In Louiseville, “it’s turkey law,” chanted Mayor Yvon Deshaies earlier this week. In a video that has circulated widely on social media, we see a male wild turkey chasing a man who is trying to run away.
The mayor therefore asked his citizens to take out their baseball bats. One of them took him at his word by killing a male turkey with a slingshot yesterday morning. Then, the mayor paraded the severed paws in a plastic bag to show the size of his claws.
According to the law, however, the hunter is exposed to a fine between $1,000 and $5,000 for a first offense and up to $15,000 for any repeat offense within five years of a similar conviction. In Louiseville, spring hunting begins at the end of April.
Intimidate rather than attack
According to biologists, turkeys can be dangerous, particularly because of the spurs on the males’ legs. But it is not usually an aggressive animal, and it even fears humans.
“Males can begin to adopt aggressive behaviors if they feel in danger or to defend a territory or females. Especially during the mating period. Normally, it is a bird that wants to intimidate rather than attack,” explains Michel Baril.
“Especially those who are in cities or who were born there, they see humans less as threats. If we run, the turkey will think that the person is beneath him hierarchically, that he can be dominated,” explains Tadeusz Splawinski, biologist at the Canadian Wild Turkey Federation.
To avoid being attacked, he advises asserting yourself by being dominant to scare the animal.
“If a turkey shows signs of aggression towards a human being, the latter should not hesitate to become imposing, frighten it with an object, speak loudly and make noise,” also maintains Daniel Labonté, spokesperson for the Ministry of the Environment, the Fight against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks.
Furthermore, climate change could explain why the population of turkeys, an animal originating from the United States, has been growing in Quebec in recent decades.
“It is an animal that feeds on seeds on the ground. With the milder winters, it can feed all year round in southern Quebec, scraping off the little snow. And with winters like this year, that gives it a chance to go even further north,” underlines biologist Michel Baril.
– With VAT News
What can we do to keep turkeys away from our properties?
- You must ensure that there are no seeds on the ground under the feeders. A fence can be installed 10 cm from the surface of the ground to prevent turkeys from reaching seeds that have fallen to the ground. If necessary, the feeders can also be removed.
- Sting strips can be installed on the perches they use.
- It is recommended to temporarily cover reflective objects (e.g. cars) during the breeding season in spring if they are the target of turkey attacks.
- Since turkeys move more often by walking than by flying, installing fences around homes is an effective measure.
- 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. Some people use a stream of water from a garden hose to scare them away. Sound devices are also available on the market.
Source: Ministry of the Environment, the Fight against Climate Change, Wildlife and Parks.