EDGEFIELD, S.C. — The Wyoming Recreation and Fish Division, with the assist of the Nationwide Wild Turkey Federation’s Wyoming State Tremendous Fund, has acquired a specialised turkey entice to deal with a rising downside: over considerable turkeys in city areas. This entice will probably be used to relocate habituated and disruptive birds from cities like Casper to rural areas the place their presence advantages each the ecosystem and looking alternatives.
“Aiding the Wyoming Recreation and Fish with managing habituated and over-abundant birds will not be solely vital to scale back public frustration of untamed turkeys, however this effort additionally makes certain these wild birds stay wild,” mentioned David Nikonow, NWTF district biologist for Wyoming. “It’s additionally an additional benefit that many of those birds might be relocated from their city setting into areas that gives public looking alternatives.”
Lately, complaints about wild turkeys in city areas have risen dramatically. Residents in Casper, for instance, have confronted points starting from turkeys roosting above homes and damaging property to aggressive birds disrupting neighborhoods. These behaviors additionally embrace defecating on sidewalks and automobiles, damaging gardens and bushes and even obstructing site visitors.
Such challenges led the Casper Metropolis Council to take motion in August 2023 by passing an ordinance prohibiting residents from feeding wild turkeys. Regardless of these measures, complaints to native authorities proceed to pour in, particularly throughout harsh winters when meals turns into scarce. Throughout these intervals, turkeys usually flock to ranches, damaging hay bales and consuming livestock feed.
The newly bought turkey entice is a major step ahead in managing these city turkey populations. Constructed from livestock panels and that includes a remotely managed door initially designed for trapping wild pigs, the entice is a big live-capture machine.
The way it works is bait is positioned on the bottom and as soon as turkeys use the bait, the entice is positioned over it. A path digital camera is then positioned on the entice. As soon as the turkeys enter the entice the digital camera alerts a Wyoming Recreation and Fish worker, the worker can then remotely drop the door on the entice and catch the turkeys. A number of workers will present up, band the birds, then load the turkeys into packing containers supplied by the NWTF and haul them to their new residence.
“We relocate turkeys to areas which have present turkey populations or have traditionally had populations of birds,” mentioned Brandon Werner, Wyoming Recreation and Fish district biologist. “This makes us assured that there’s sufficient habitat for them. At this level Wyoming Recreation and Fish will not be relocating into areas which have by no means had birds. If we did, we do have a course of to guage habitat.”
The relocated turkeys are sometimes moved to areas with low inhabitants numbers, making certain they contribute to native wildlife variety whereas lowering human-wildlife conflicts in city settings. Monitoring of those relocated birds is performed casually by landowners and Wyoming Recreation and Fish workers to evaluate their adjustment and influence.
Via progressive options and collaborative efforts, the NWTF and the Wyoming Recreation and Fish are making certain a future the place turkeys thrive in acceptable habitats, and concrete residents get pleasure from fewer turkey-related disruptions. By relocating turkeys from city areas to rural habitats, the Wyoming Recreation and Fish will not be solely mitigating city conflicts but in addition supporting the state’s wild turkey populations and offering new alternatives for hunters.
In regards to the Nationwide Wild Turkey Federation
Since 1973, the Nationwide Wild Turkey Federation has invested over half a billion {dollars} into wildlife conservation and has positively impacted over 24 million acres of crucial wildlife habitat. The NWTF has additionally invested over $10 million into wild turkey analysis to information the administration of the wild turkey inhabitants and to make sure sustainable populations into perpetuity. The group continues to ship its mission by working throughout boundaries on a panorama scale by its 4 Shared Values: clear and considerable water, wholesome forests and wildlife habitat, resilient communities, and strong leisure alternatives. With the assistance of its devoted members, companions and workers, the NWTF continues its work to supply Wholesome Habitats. and Wholesome Harvests. for future generations.
