A Lone Turkey Finds Its Way Into Your Yard – Everything You Need To Know

If you ever look out your window to see a large bird casing your yard, there is a chance it is a lone turkey. Coming across a surprise visitor like a turkish delicacy can make you curious about why it’s there and what to do about it.

If you want a quick answer, you should leave the turkey alone as it will likely move on in a day or so. But if you want to understand more about the turkey’s behavior and how to properly handle the situation, read on to learn everything you need to know about a lone turkey in your yard.

Why Is There a Turkey in My Yard?

Natural Explorers

Wild turkeys are naturally inquisitive birds that enjoy exploring their surroundings (Mass Audubon). As their habitat ranges expand due to successful conservation efforts, turkeys are increasingly likely to venture out of the woods into suburban and urban areas.

Don’t be surprised to see a lone turkey strutting across your lawn or pecking around your garden!

Mating Season Drives Movement

Springtime often prompts turkey movement as the birds search for mates. Male turkeys, known as toms, may stray far from their flocks in pursuit of females during the late March-early April mating season.

A tom turkey displaying courtship behaviors like fanning his tail feathers, puffing out his body, and gobbling loudly can accidentally wander into a neighborhood seeking receptive hens.

Seeking Food Sources

Lush landscapes offer tempting buffets for wildlife like turkeys. They forage on seeds, fruits, greens, nuts, berries, and small insects. Backyard vegetable gardens and flower beds overflowing with colorful blossoms frequently attract turkey visitors in search of natural treats.

Unsecured chicken coops with feed spills may also appeal to the omnivorous birds. Maintaining tidy outdoor spaces can make a yard less enticing to a passing turkey.

Is the Turkey Dangerous or Aggressive?

Most are Not Aggressive

For the most part, wild turkeys are not aggressive towards humans. They tend to be quite wary and will usually run away if approached or if they sense a threat. However, during their breeding season, also known as the spring mating season, male turkeys can become more aggressive as they try to attract females and ward off competing males.

Here are some key things to know about wild turkey aggression and danger levels:

• Males are more aggressive than females, especially in spring during mating season
• Females with nests or young poults become very protective and may attack perceived threats
• Lone adult turkeys that become habituated to humans tend to be bolder but not usually aggressive
• Groups of turkeys can display mobbing behavior where they surround an animal or person, which can be intimidating but is generally harmless

So while turkeys can seem aggressive at times, especially when defending territory or offspring, they rarely attack or pose a real danger to people. Their aggressive displays are mainly bluffing to look tough.

Be Cautious if They Display Threats

However, it’s still wise to exercise some caution around wild turkeys displaying aggressive behaviors, which may include:

• Fluffing feathers to appear larger
• Raising tail feathers like a fan
• Hissing, gobbling, or making other loud vocalizations
• Charging or chasing
• Pecking at feet or clothing
• Spurring with their legs

If a turkey starts displaying these behaviors towards you, back away slowly while facing the bird. Don’t make direct eye contact as this can seem like a challenge. Also, refrain from screaming or making loud noises which may provoke attack.

Instead, speak calmly and gently until out of the turkey’s perceived territory.

If They Have Nestlings – Give Space

One scenario in which turkey aggression escalates is when people get too close to a nesting site or young poults. According to wildlife experts, a mother turkey can attack quite viciously to defend vulnerable chicks.

These defensive attacks usually only cause minor injuries like scratches or bruising at worst.

However, to avoid conflict, it’s important to give turkey hens space when parenting. Texas Parks & Wildlife recommends staying at least 30 feet away from any wild turkey nest location. Also avoid getting between a mother and chicks – this can trigger an attack as she tries to gather the poults safely.

Here is a quick comparison of key things to remember regarding turkey aggression:

How to Safely Get a Turkey Out of Your Yard

Usually They Will Move On

Wild turkeys are naturally wary of humans and will often move on from a yard once they realize it’s inhabited. According to the National Wildlife Federation, attempting to scare or herd the turkey will likely just stress the animal unnecessarily, as it will probably leave on its own in a short period.So the first step is just to wait and see if the turkey loses interest in your yard after a few hours or days.

Turkeys are most active during the early morning and evening hours as they forage for food. If you leave them alone, they will likely wander off to another location once they are satisfied. Most turkeys don’t stay in one area for more than a few days consecutively.

Patience is key – avoid interacting with them and let them pick up on the cues that your yard is not an ideal habitat.

Gently Herd with Noise or Spray

However, if the turkey lingers for more than 3-4 days and is causing issues like interfering with pets or causing damage, some gentle hazing may be in order. The Humane Society recommends making loud noises like a whistle, opening an umbrella, or spraying the turkey with water to startle them and get them to move on.

It’s best to start hazing efforts with gentler tactics like loud noises or spraying water. Avoid overly aggressive hazing like chasing them, which is illegal according to Florida Fish and Wildlife. Only increase hazing intensity if gentler efforts don’t work after a few attempts.

The key is using just enough disruption to get them to leave the immediate area – not to completely scare or injure them. After they wander off, stop the hazing. The goal is to reinforce that your yard is an unpleasant habitat, not torment the poor turkey!

Call Wildlife Officers if Problems Persist

If a turkey loiters on or near your property for over a week despite your gentle hazing efforts, it may be time to call state wildlife officers to remove the bird. According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission, persistent turkey issues should be reported to the regional office so staff can trap and relocate the offender.

In Florida specifically, turkeys fall under the regulatory authority of the FWC – so homeowners should not attempt removal without coordinating. Only licensed staff have the proper equipment and knowledge for safe capture and transport.

Before deciding to call for pro help, document your prior attempts to move the turkey using gentle hazing techniques. Officers will first make recommendations like trimming landscaping to eliminate protective cover, using repellents, and consistent hazing.

So being able to share what you’ve already tried is key information to help guide next steps.

Preventing Turkeys from Entering Your Yard

Remove Food Sources

Wild turkeys can be very persistent when searching for food, so removing any potential food sources from your yard is key to keeping them away. This includes clearing away bird feeders, fallen fruit from trees, open compost piles, and any vegetables or berries growing in your garden.

Turkeys love snacking on corn, berries, seeds, nuts, and insects, so eliminating access to these tasty treats will help prevent turkeys from visiting your yard. You’ll also want to make sure any outdoor pet food bowls are not left out overnight.

Use Deterrents

There are several effective turkey deterrents that can help make your yard less appealing. Motion activated sprinklers are a great option – when the turkey steps into the detection zone, it will get sprayed with water which quickly trains it to avoid that area.

You can also set up visual deterrents like scarecrows, fake predators like plastic owls or snakes, or shiny objects that will startle turkeys when the light reflects off of them. Some people have success with tying reflective tape to a stake or stringing up old CDs which clatter in the breeze.

The more you can break up their sightlines and make your yard less comfortable, the better.

Block Access Areas

If there are certain areas where turkeys are entering your yard, you may need to physically block their access. Low fencing or vegetation like thorny bushes or prickly plants can be used to close up gaps along your property line.

Make sure there are no openings along the ground or under fences where turkeys can sneak through. You can also use poultry netting to cover up potential entry points. Focus on closing off any spaces near woods, meadows or agricultural fields where turkeys are likely traveling from.

A little prevention by blocking their access routes can go a long way in keeping turkeys out of your yard.

When to Call for Turkey Rescue or Relocation

Injured Turkey

If you spot an injured or ill turkey on your property, it’s important to call a wildlife rehabilitator or animal control right away. Wild turkeys with injuries like broken wings or legs, or symptoms of diseases like avian pox, will likely perish without professional care.

According to the National Wild Turkey Federation, only about 10% of wild turkey poults survive their first year. So an injury or illness can greatly impact the bird’s chances. When making the call, give specifics on the type and severity of injury/illness.

This will help the rehabilitator prepare and bring proper equipment for safe capture and transport.

If the turkey is struggling to walk, isolate it in a sheltered area like a shed or garage while waiting for help. Provide a shallow dish of water but no food, as feeding an injured wild animal is illegal. Also clear pets and children from the area so the frightened bird stays calm.

Persistent Nuisance Turkey

While the occasional lone turkey wandering through your yard isn’t cause for alarm, a persistent nuisance turkey that routinely comes back can become a problem. These unwelcome visitors may display aggressive behaviors like pecking or charging, especially in spring during mating season and fall when juvenile males separate from the flock.

Before calling animal control to remove the intruder, try some deterrents first like spraying it with a garden hose or hanging reflective mylar tape on your property lines. If that fails and the pushy fowl keeps encroaching, then it’s time to call in the professionals.

According to wildlifehotline.com, over half of nuisance wildlife removal calls in most states are for turkeys. So animal control officers or game wardens are equipped to humanely trap the bird and relocate it away from population centers to state-approved woodlands or wildlife management areas.

Orphaned Poults

Turkey hens are devoted mothers who use vocalizations to gather stray chicks. But sometimes entire broods still become separated from adults. If you find healthy poults less than 4 weeks old that don’t rejoin the flock in a day or seem imperiled, then rescue may be needed.

Use caution when approaching as stress can be fatal for delicate chicks. Wear quiet garments while gently guiding strays into a ventilated box or carrier lined with non-toxic shredded paper. Then quickly contact wildlife rehabilitators to orchestrate reunification.

Since broods imprint on their mom during the first weeks, orphans older than a month often fare better overwintering in outdoor enclosures at rehabilitation clinics. Come spring, they can be released where wild flocks roam to stand the best chance of survival.

Conclusion

Having an unexpected visitor like a lone turkey in your yard can certainly be a surprise. But as we have covered, they are usually just passing through and won’t cause issues if given adequate space. Understanding typical turkey behavior helps you handle these situations properly for both your safety and theirs.

With some preventative measures, you can also deter turkeys from frequenting your yard. But if problems do arise with a turkey that lingers or displays aggressive behavior, calling wildlife authorities is the next step to have the turkey humanely relocated to a more suitable environment.