With Thanksgiving approaching, turkeys are on many of our minds. But for those that live in a neighborhood with frequent turkey visitors, you might think of them more often.  

Like most creatures, turkeys are not always considered a pest, and some people may even enjoy seeing them. But turkeys can certainly become pests when they dig in landscape beds, create traffic hazards, chase people, and poop on sidewalks, driveways, and in vegetable gardens.

Wild turkeys can quickly become accustomed to people and our urban environments, especially when they are fed (which is illegal). Their management and removal are difficult and often not feasible, so it's best to learn how to live with them.

If turkeys are...

While you may not notice symptoms of peach leaf curl until the spring, you should manage it in the fall and winter.

Peach leaf curl is a fungal disease that primarily affects peach and nectarine trees. Fungal spores overwinter on twigs and flower buds and germinate in the spring causing distorted, reddened leaves. Unfortunately, this disease cannot be effectively managed once the symptoms appear in the spring, so experts recommend pesticide treatments before bud break (when new flower buds begin to open).

Timing of the first treatment in the dormant season should be made after leaves have dropped in the fall and winter. This is often in late November or early December. Treat affected trees with a fungicide...

A line of pushed up grass. A volcano sized mound. Yep, it's probably a mole! While you may never actually see the mole itself, the signs of their presence are pretty clear.

Moles are small burrowing mammals (not rodents) that live almost entirely underground in extensive tunnel networks. Since they prefer worms, they don't typically eat plants, but their burrowing can damage plant roots and leave unsightly ridges in lawns. You'll usually only find one mole per tunnel so if you start your control actions as soon as you spot their burrowing, you can more easily manage them.

Fortunately, UC IPM has a newly updated resource to help in your mole management efforts! This revised fact sheet,

With the passing of law AB 1322 in 2023 and the recent passing of AB 2552 in September 2024, the options for managing California ground squirrels using lethal methods in urban areas will be more limited. Despite these changes, there are still some viable options available for managing California ground squirrels.

Fumigants

Fumigation can be challenging in urban areas due to the risk of toxic gases leaking into buildings through burrows. However, some burrow fumigants can be used effectively if applied at a safe distance from structures. Be sure to consult the fumigant label for specific usage criteria. Fumigants are lethal to any animal residing within the burrow.

Beginning July 2023,...