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These Wild Turkeys Are Wild!
Stiles Thomas reports the flock of Wild Turkeys that frequent the Thomas back yard can be very aggressive when predatory mammals are on their turf.
On one recent occasion, the turkeys encircled a coyote that had wandered into the yard, and this morning the turkeys drove off a Red Fox.
Stiles wonders if anyone else has witnessed this sort of behavior by Wild Turkeys.
Above, a Wild Turkey posse patrols the Thomas yard.
Curiously, the Wild Turduckens of High Mountain are thought to exhibit the same sort of behavior.
4 comments
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Thanks. Stiles will be interested in hearing this…
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One article I read said it’s the adolescent turkeys that are aggressive but they outgrow it. I suspect that the fox and coyote weren’t hungry having a good supply of rodents at hand. The turkeys sensed the lack of threat and flocking behavior was enough to ward off the fox and coyote. Turkeys are a lot of work to take down but that may change come February when food becomes more scarce. Also, it’s mating season for all 3 animals. Maybe their thoughts are elsewhere. In everything I’ve read about turkeys, the opposite also applies!
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On a different note on behavior, be have had, for many years, a flock of about 18 turkeys and two took to roosting overnight in two trees, one over our driveway. They would regularly fly up on our next door neighbor’s roof, then flew to her tree where one stayed and the other flew to our tree. Creatures of habit, they walked up our street, detoured two house down and came in through the back yards to the roof…until we discouraged them. What a mess they made. UGH. Also, they are very aggressive, coming onto on our deck and pecking at the glass door and windows. Also, they have pecked at cars when they see their reflection.
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At least they are not chicken and will probably kick the stuffing out of a coyote or fox.
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4 comments
Jim Wright
Thanks. Stiles will be interested in hearing this…
pat price
One article I read said it’s the adolescent turkeys that are aggressive but they outgrow it. I suspect that the fox and coyote weren’t hungry having a good supply of rodents at hand. The turkeys sensed the lack of threat and flocking behavior was enough to ward off the fox and coyote. Turkeys are a lot of work to take down but that may change come February when food becomes more scarce. Also, it’s mating season for all 3 animals. Maybe their thoughts are elsewhere. In everything I’ve read about turkeys, the opposite also applies!
sallyt.
On a different note on behavior, be have had, for many years, a flock of about 18 turkeys and two took to roosting overnight in two trees, one over our driveway. They would regularly fly up on our next door neighbor’s roof, then flew to her tree where one stayed and the other flew to our tree. Creatures of habit, they walked up our street, detoured two house down and came in through the back yards to the roof…until we discouraged them. What a mess they made. UGH. Also, they are very aggressive, coming onto on our deck and pecking at the glass door and windows. Also, they have pecked at cars when they see their reflection.
Marianne Herrmann
At least they are not chicken and will probably kick the stuffing out of a coyote or fox.