We have only been here since 6/2013 so I can’t say how long Turkeys have been
in our neighborhood or whether their numbers have changed. But we have lots of
Turkeys, too many Turkeys. Most days we have several flocks foraging the yard,
even though I do my best to discourage them. Sometimes the flocks converge on
the yard and start fighting. A Turkey rumble is not a pleasant sight,
downright scary at times. My high count for a Turkey rumble was about 35.
When that happens I get out the hose and squirt them down, just like breaking
up a cat fight.
Sure wish there were Coyotes in this neighborhood, that might help keep them in
check. Take my Turkeys...please!
Lori Markoff
Eugene (South Hills)
From: obol-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:obol-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of ;
Brandon Green
Sent: Monday, January 04, 2016 9:08 AM
To: OBOL
Subject: [obol] Eugene Turkeys
Has anybody else in the Eugene area noticed a large increase in Wild Turkey
numbers over the past couple of years? I don't recall seeing many of them
around prior to the 2011 or so. I vaguely recall seeing some around Hendrick's
Park maybe five years ago, then on Skinner Butte a year or two ago and, more
recently, in my relatively urban neighborhood in North Eugene over the past
year and a half. I've seen a eight or so walking down the sidewalk along Cal
Young Road in broad daylight and had good dozen in my culdesac back in
September. During yesterday's Eugene CBC, my count area had 76 of them. (These
were in hazelnut orchards and lightly wooded fields between the Oak Hill
Cemetery and Clear Lake Road.)
Most of the ones that I saw yesterday were relatively skinny and appeared to be
feral, though perhaps some of the urban-dwellers are being raised on private
property. It would make sense that introduced Wild Turkeys would prosper in our
climate, though it seems a bit odd that they would become so conspicuous so
quickly.
Brandon
Eugene
