First it was the urban fox sightings.
Now, flocks of wild turkeys are roaming urban areas in and around Montreal.
With the latest sightings in NDG, giant turkeys have been spotted in neighbourhoods all over the city—from Saint Leonard to the East End.
Having nearly vanished from Canada in the early 1900s, wild turkey sightings have grown increasingly common in recent years, with the city’s milder winters and abundant urban food sources are likely drawing them in.
While they are generally not dangerous, the urban numbers are on the rise so it’s important to know what to do if you encounter one.
What should you do if you encounter a wild turkey?
Some people view wild turkeys as a nuisance due to the dominant behavior exhibited by certain animals.
Turkeys may chase or peck at humans and even attack vehicles, and males may feel attacked during breeding season in the spring.
If you come into contact with a wild turkey, these are some suggestions from the City of Montreal:
1. Do not go near it
2. Do not feed it
3. Make a noise to scare it away or use an object such as an umbrella or a stick to keep it at a distance and scare it off. Do not hit the bird
4. Close garbage, recycling and compost bins tightly
5. Use feeders that prevent seeds from scattering on the ground or install a screen underneath to hold them in. Clean the ground under the feeders often. If a turkey is in your neighborhood, remove the feeders temporarily
6. Install netting over your vegetable and berry plants to prevent turkeys from feeding on them
Are there wild turkeys in Canada?
Native to southern Ontario and southern Quebec, the Wild Turkey was eradicated in the early 1900s.
However, it was reintroduced in the 1980s and has since expanded its breeding range to include eastern Ontario, southern Quebec, and the southernmost regions of Canada’s four western provinces.
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