In case you didn’t already know, it’s breeding and nesting season for Alameda’s wild turkeys—and they need you (and your dogs) to stay away from them. Seriously, they mean it. One recent incident sent an 83-year-old woman to the hospital.
Local resident Mary Jo Kelly was attacked on Thursday, May 21, she told ABC7 News. She said she was on her nightly walk when suddenly she was attacked from behind by a pair of wild turkeys.
“I went headfirst, and I broke my glasses,” Kelly told ABC7. “I hit the palm of my hand, my thumb. I bled in the nose.” She got away from the turkeys and called her husband, who took her to the hospital emergency room, where she got a CT scan, the report stated. She went home with six stitches in her hand and bruises on her face from the fall.
Kelly said she called the Alameda Police Department (APD) but she said officers told her they couldn’t file a report because the incident involved wildlife rather than domestic animals. Animal Control Officer Emily Crum told ABC7 the City can’t remove any of the wild turkeys.
The other recent turkey attack involved a pet dog, APD said. “This type of behavior is common during the spring breeding and nesting season,” an APD report warned. “It is often associated with male turkeys competing for dominance or while protecting their offspring.”
Our island’s wild turkeys are “a unique and memorable part of our community,” APD noted, but “it is important to remember they are still wild animals.” In other words, give those guys plenty of space. They are unpredictable, especially at this time of year.
Pet owners who wish to protect themselves—and the turkeys—during this season should take extra precautions, APD also noted. “In the City of Alameda, dogs are required to be on a leash in public areas, and keeping pets under control can help prevent dangerous wildlife encounters.”
It’s the law: Keep your dog on a leash.
“By staying aware and respecting wildlife from a safe distance, we can keep both our community and Alameda’s animals safe,” APD stated.
Following the recent attacks, local Girl Scouts put up a display at the Alameda farmers market last Saturday, with photos and information about wild turkeys. One of the informational pieces on display, “How to Deal with Wild Turkeys,” suggested “humane harassment tactics,” including making loud noises, blowing whistles, or opening an umbrella. The scouts also gave away free “Turkey Talk” pamphlets.
For residents who would like to make their yards a bit less attractive to wildlife—including papa turkeys—APD suggests removing fallen fruit, nuts, bird seed, and outdoor pet food bowls when not in use. The Scouts’ display echoed that suggestion, noting that, “Turkeys are smart enough to learn from a bad experience. If you make your yard consistently uncomfortable, they will remember the location as a place to avoid in the future.”
There were more than 150 comments on the APD Facebook post. One turkey fan got a lot of likes, stating: “I do not wish to admit how old I am, but I am going to state the following, as a dad. This version of Alameda, with all of the new bike lanes, and safe, happy, kiddos walking everywhere, and cranky, slow-walking flocks of wild turkeys, is quite literally the best iteration I have ever witnessed. Is wildlife ‘wild’ by nature, and sometimes problematic? Yes. Does it also add enjoyment to life in this town? Most definitely yes.”
Another response understandably came from a different point of view: “My mother-in-law was seriously attacked last week while out for her evening walk. …It came at her from across the street and attacked her from behind. She had to go to the ER… It makes me extremely angry that the City and police weren’t willing to do anything!”
The topic of bird flu, and turkeys possibly spreading it, was mentioned by another commenter, which engendered this reply: “If bird flu is a legitimate danger in Alameda, why are we not up in arms about the multiple hundreds of Canada geese that have been pooping all over the entire West End since Alameda was founded? Pooping is apparently their sole raison d’etre. It’s everywhere you walk. Grass, sidewalks, trails, cars. Honestly.”
Despite the winged controversy, the issue now, at least from APD’s perspective, is to protect our safety by taking precautions and giving our wild turkeys as much space as we can.
