With many people thinking about turkey this time of year, we thought we would provide some interesting facts about wild turkeys for you to share during your holiday gatherings!
- Turkeys are not native to California but were introduced by European settlers. Most turkeys we eat are raised on farms but there are millions of turkeys that roam wild. The population of wild turkeys in California is estimated today to be roughly a quarter million birds!
- Turkeys are polygamous, meaning they will have more than one mate. They breed in...
- Author: Elaine Lander
It has been rumored that Ben Franklin proposed the turkey as the national bird and symbol of our nation. Whether this is true or not, there is evidence that Franklin thought highly of this holiday bird. In a letter to his daughter, Franklin called the turkey a “respectable bird…though a little vain & silly, [he is] a bird of courage and would not hesitate to attack.”
In California, wild turkeys have started to become more common sightings in our communities. Some Californians may enjoy watching wildlife, but others find them to be quite the nuisance. Wild turkeys foraging for food in residential areas can destroy landscapes and gardens, leave their...
- Author: Karey Windbiel-Rojas
When people think of Thanksgiving, they often think of spending time with family, expressing gratitude for the fall harvest and other things, and for many, turkey. Most people aren't thinking about pests, but UC IPM always is! The pests we are thinking about this Thanksgiving are turkeys.
Wild turkeys.
Wild turkey populations have exploded in some urban areas of California, causing problems in landscapes while they are searching for food, posing traffic hazards when crossing streets or walking in the road, and in some cases, chasing or harassing people. Turkeys can become more aggressive during the breeding season, occasionally even charging, threatening, and acting aggressively toward people.
Prevent problems by...