Wild turkeys can be an annoyance in suburban areas, squawking at cars and windows or pecking at patio doors and sliding glass doors without harming them. By taking some simple measures to shoo them away without harming them you may be able to reduce their numbers.
Eliminate food sources and eradicate their nests to deter pests from visiting your property, scarecrows or sculptures may help deter pests too.
1. Humane Deterrents
Wild turkeys are an integral part of nature, yet can become nuisances in suburban settings. They may damage lawns, gardens and landscaping as well as leave droppings around homes, cars and walkways. Furthermore, during breeding season these turkeys can become aggressive pecking or scratching at doors windows car paint screens people. There are various humane deterrents available to homeowners that will help keep these birds at bay such as taking away food sources hazing them out or placing barriers.
One effective method to rid yourself of turkeys without killing them is by eliminating their food sources on your property, including bird feeders, garden and yard equipment, garbage cans, and any spilled food from garden equipment. Furthermore, speaking with neighbors regarding any wildlife feeding habits they might have that attract wild turkeys will prevent them from coming into your yard looking for leftovers or berries.
Once a turkey finds food nearby, they tend to stay close by – often within yards or close proximity of home. This includes backyard gardens, fruit trees and bushes, decks and garbage cans. Blocking off these areas with barriers, reflective tape or using scare tactics such as frighten techniques is useful in preventing access.
Depending on the area, a simple barrier made from metal poultry wire may be placed over shrubs, berry bushes and fruit trees to keep birds away. Farmers have used predator kites and spraying water with a hose or squirt gun to frighten wild turkeys away, while predator kites may also work effectively at scaring these animals away.
Wild turkeys have a naturally nervous temperament and can quickly become startled when confronted by loud noises or potential threats, thus helping deter them from entering your yard and damaging its landscaping. You may need to use loud noises such as waving arms and yelling, blowing a whistle or opening an umbrella while walking toward them to startle them if they come too close; using leashes with dogs attached may also work, although be wary not to accidentally hurt either animal in this process!
2. Natural Deterrents
Turkeys can be seen both in rural areas where they reside wild, as well as suburban neighborhoods where they seek food, mates and shelter. Although some people appreciate seeing turkeys scavenge leftovers or seed in their yards for sustenance; others find them bothersome. Luckily there are humane ways of deterring turkeys without resorting to killing.
Eliminate their food sources to keep turkeys away. Disconnect any bird feeders with spilled or rotting seeds, secure your trash bins against access by turkeys, and consider installing fencing around your garden or planting flowers and bushes that turkeys are less likely to enjoy, such as snapdragons, tiger lilies, sage rosemary or thyme that they won’t enjoy eating as much of.
Visual deterrence strategies include spraying wild turkeys with water from a hose or squirt gun, which is particularly effective if they roost near your home. You could also hang foil strips or reflective surfaces at eye level across patios or yards in order to startle and disorient them; fake owls or predator decoys may be effective as these will be perceived by turkeys as real threats and they’ll often avoid areas in which these presence are detected.
Loud noises such as cat meows or outdoor speakers playing loud music can frighten away turkeys when they come hunting in gardens for food. Throwing tennis balls or opening an umbrella may also frighten them and encourage them to move onto another area of your yard.
Other than noisy deterrents, bamboo spikes, copper wire or PVC pipe spikes may also help deter turkeys. You can purchase them at many hardware stores or online and they’re quite effective if hung high enough above the ground so as not to hit your plants or people walking through your yard. Also try throwing rocks or sticks from a distance at turkeys – they have acute senses and learn quickly; therefore it’s essential that different deterrents be used and frequently adjusted and changed so they don’t become accustomed.
3. Deterrents for Animals
Turkeys can cause damage in urban and suburban settings when wandering from wild areas in search of food and roosting sites, which often requires wandering from wild areas into cities and suburbs in search of sustenance and shelter. Male turkeys in particular can become aggressive during breeding season, pecking at sliding doors and even car paint with their beaks! While some people resort to killing unwanted turkeys outright – which can be cruel but ineffective as more birds will replace those killed – this Humane Society suggests eliminating their sources of sustenance and rooting out their roosting sites as an effective first step in mitigating this pest problem.
An assortment of visual deterrents are available to homeowners to prevent turkeys from entering residential properties. Scarecrows can be effective and safe tools for scaring away turkeys while decoys like owls and hawks also work effectively; even spreading dog hair around your yard could work wonders; turkeys tend to remember predator scents and avoid areas where hunters may approach.
Noisemakers can also serve as effective turkey deterrents. Loud noises or waves in their direction, as well as blowing a whistle or shaking a container of pennies can disconcert them and scare away turkeys. Another effective strategy would be hanging metal poultry wire in areas where turkeys frequent, such as around berry bushes and fruit trees; just make sure not to use polypropylene wire, which could potentially trap other wildlife such as skunks at night.
Water can also serve as an effective deterrent against wild turkeys, who do not like being wet. Installing a motion-activated sprinkler that responds to sounds of turkeys or any physical threats on your property will startle them away as they avoid the forceful water spray and flee from its forceful stream. Other effective water deterrents include small ponds activated by hearing their calls or spray-on repellent that emits a sticky substance when crossed by these animals.
As well as these humane methods of deterrence, it is also essential to remember that wild turkeys are natural predators and should not be disturbed or encouraged in order to keep their numbers under control. Furthermore, feral and free-ranging cats and dogs that could kill or harm turkey eggs or chicks if permitted should also be eliminated as potential threats.
4. Deterrents for Birds
Wild turkeys are typically found in open country or natural forests; however, as residential areas developed they adapted by entering neighborhoods. While this can cause nuisance issues like messing up gardens and overturning bird feeders, there are ways of eliminating turkeys without harming or killing them.
An effective way to discourage turkeys is to eliminate their food sources. Many conflicts between humans and turkeys stem from people feeding the birds; feeding wild animals may make them become domesticated or aggressive during breeding season. Close bird feeders until breeding season has finished or remove yours altogether, and encourage your neighbors to do the same.
Other simple techniques to deter turkeys include making loud noises or waving your arms around. Turkeys are terrified by noises that might signal imminent predators; so make sure to shake a penny can (an open coffee can filled with pennies you “throw”) at them or blow a whistle or yell when you spot one in your yard, blow your whistle or use other methods when seeing turkeys nearby. You could also build or buy fake turkey decoys to further discourage turkeys.
Common turkey issues involve their habit of foraging for food in your neighborhood during mating season, often raiding garbage cans or trash bins in search of sustenance. To discourage them from raiding these sources of sustenance, haze the turkeys by making loud noises or waving your arms until they leave it alone.
Finally, consider installing motion-sensitive sprinklers in your yard that will spray out forceful bursts of water when turkeys approach too closely. Not only will this frighten them away but can also act as an effective barrier that protects plants without harming animals.
Maintaining your yard and garden by eliminating potential roosting areas for wild turkeys will protect both your property and plants you have laboriously grown from being damaged or destroyed by them. Try placing bird netting over fruit trees, planters and garden beds to block access to produce or create a potential trip hazard for yourself or visitors.