Posted on 04/07/2008 6:10:18 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
MADISON, Wis. - Rather than rain or snow, or even dogs, postal workers in a West Side neighborhood near Owen Conservation Park are being pestered by wild turkeys this spring. Mara Wilhite, manager of the Hilldale Station Post Office, said she expected to deal with all manner of issues when she went to work for the U.S. Post Office. But that was not one of them.
"Just when you thought you'd heard it all," she said.
About five to 10 of the birds have been pecking at the postal workers as they make their rounds, and some of the birds have attacked the letter carriers with the sharp spurs on their legs. One of the birds went through the open door of a mail truck and scratched the driver.
Wilhite sought help in the matter from Eric Lobner, regional wildlife program supervisor for the state Department of Natural Resources.
Lobner said the behavior is clearly tied to the breeding season, which started recently and runs through about mid-May.
Color plays an important role in turkey breeding, he said, with the color of the male's head during mating season changes from gaudy blue to white to red. Lobner speculated that perhaps the turkeys are attracted to the red, white and blue postal trucks.
Postal workers were armed with water pistols. But Lober said that, while the squirts of water worked for a while, the turkeys now seem accustomed to it.
Some workers have been using long sticks to fend off the birds, he said, adding that he will meet with Wilhite next week to discuss other possible solutions.
Part of the problem, Lobner said, is that residents around Owen Conservation Park around the Parkwood Hills neighborhood may be feeding the turkeys, which makes the birds less afraid of humans. He said pamphlets have been circulated in the neighborhood to discourage people from feeding the birds.
WKRP Turkey Drop: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZnwmvZhDz4
The toms are strutting right now. It’s pretty impressive. There will be lots of little turkeys soon.
There is a turkey that hangs out in Kendall Square, Cambridge, MA. It walks along the sidewalk and looks at itself in the reflection of windows. I don’t know where it came from. There is a poultry slaughter house near there. Perhaps it escaped.
Yes, raising prices on stamps is chicken
Consumers just keep taking a lickin’
I wonder if they’ve ever attacked a bottle of Wild Turkey?
I have a flock of ducks and they are good at sounding the alarm when something is out of the ordinary. If a car pulls in our drive they all scramble to the gate and “discuss” the arrival. At night a cat or anything that disturbs their rest results in a grumbly protest. We are alerted to anything unusual or unexpected that happens.
ROFL
You don’t attack a bottle of Wild Turkey, it attacks you!
Uh huh, they smelled Wild Turkey!
I remember a wedding where a groom was served more than a fifth and almost drowned during a heavy rainstorm while sleeping it off in a hammock with his moth open. No, we just watched to see what would happen, until someone finally went out and turned his head sideways.
I guess the turkeys want more pardons from the President. But we DON’T NEGOTIATE WITH TERRORISTS!
I humbly bow to your deep understanding of the matter and the ethanol of your wisdom.
I have the memory of an elephant ... one attack from that beast was all I needed in my memory banks! SoCo is another enemy force to avoid.
We live out in the country, and the TN wildlife guys have done a really great job of bringing Turkeys back to the area over the last 20 years.
That said, I know a UPS driver who had a flock fly up at his truck. Some hit the windshield, some got inside (the door was open) and he ended up in the ditch right in front of a very famous country singer’s house. He had to ring the doorbell to call his boss and a tow truck.
What does a wild turkey taste like?
I was attacked by Wild Turkey once, but it came in a bottle.
Good drinkin' too!
Carry turkey seed treats like you carry doggie treats on your mail route.
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