Turkeys running W-I-L-D...!!!

https://www.citylab.com/life/2019/11...uburbs/602563/

Turkeys in Your Neighborhood? Get Used to It.

LINDA POON NOVEMBER 26, 2019

"Wild turkeys have made a remarkable comeback in the U.S. since the early 20th century, leading to more reports of them causing trouble in the neighborhood.
Earlier this month, residents in in Toms River, New Jersey, were calling for help. The state is home to some 20,000 wild turkeys, and about 40 to 50 of them, residents say, are terrorizing their Holiday City neighborhood. The birds have become so bold that theyre knocking on doors looking for food, according to a recent New York Times report, and so menacing that theyre trapping residents in their homes, local news outlets reported. The birds also block streets and peck at cars, one of which belongs to baseball player Todd Frazier, whose tweet sent reporters flocking for the scoop.

Ruthless rule breakers that the birds are, €œthey cause traffic problems,€� Holiday City resident Don Kliem told CBS. €œPeople blow their horns at them, and they dont pay attention to them. It means nothing to them.€�

The €œinvasion,€� as some residents have described it, came weeks before Thanksgiving, but similar stories of humans clashing with wild turkeys pop up year-round and across the country. There are between 6 million and 7 million of the gobblers across the U.S. today, and while they generally live in parks and forests, they are increasingly finding their way into the built environment.

€œThe suburbs have been marching out into the countryside and into the turkeys natural habitat,€� says David Curson, the director of bird conservation at National Audubon Societys Maryland-D.C. office, where he also serves as the interim executive director. €œEspecially where there are green corridors alongside rivers and streams projecting into the cities and suburbs, turkeys will follow those, and come into built areas.€�

The encounters have played out more dramatically in some areas than in others, and residents are finding it hard to coexist with their 20-pound feathered neighbors. Sometimes the birds get aggressive, as in the case of the Holiday City birds. In Waukesha, Wisconsin, one bird has been stalking a local postal worker €œfor months.€� Other times, theyre just in the way. Wild turkeys have come crashing through the windshield of a big-wheeler in Sarasota, Florida, and through the windows of a two-story home in Elk Grove, California. In Moro, Oregon, and Oxford Township, Michigan, earlier this year, the birds were responsible for two fatal collisions on the highway.

It wasnt so long ago that these kinds of human-turkey interaction were uncommon€”even rare. Unregulated hunting and habitat loss from logging and urban development rendered wild turkeys almost extinct in the U..S. Before Christopher Columbus set foot in the Americas in 1492, there were an estimated 10 million wild turkeys, according to the National Wild Turkey Federation, a citizen-led group that advocates for sound hunting policies. By the early 1900s, numbers dwindled significantly€”varying estimates put the population lows at 30,000 or up to 200,000.

The conservation movement at the turn of the 20th century proved beneficial to the birds. €œThe big successes were the public conservation laws that brought in hunting regulations and a system in which you buy a permit to hunt,€� Curson says. In the 1940s and 1950s, state governments and the turkey federation worked to enact hunting restrictions and require licenses. The fees were put toward hiring staff to manage wildlife population, according to the National Wildlife Federation.

Local conservations, meanwhile, worked to reestablish the turkey population by trapping birds from forests where they were in abundance and reintroducing to other suitable habitats, like abandoned farmlands reclaimed by nature. (They learned the hard way that farming turkeys and placing them in the wild didnt work, as the barnyard birds proved to be far less efficient at foraging and escaping predators.) The strategy took decades, but eventually the population started bounce back.

In Maryland, €œthey expanded enormously in the last 30 to 40 years,€� says Curson. Once restricted to the western, more rural areas, theyre now found all over the state. €œWild turkeys have been translocated to new areas if theyve adapted very well,€� he adds.

Indeed, turkeys are a generalist species that adapts well to new environments because they dont need specialized food or a particular vegetation to survive. A 2017 study by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources found that wild turkeys dont require vast forested landscape, which means they are more flexible with where theyre able to live. The researchers studied female turkey habitat selection between forested areas and open agriculture fields, and found that they preferred the edges in between the two landscapes.

So as suburban and urban development threaten the turkeys more vulnerable predators€”bobcats, coyotes, and such€”the birds have been better at living among humans. Theyve thrived on food put out by humans, like those found in bird feeders or unsecured trash. Thats allowed them to flourish in the New England region, where the wild turkey population is at a record high, the National Geographic reports. Sometimes environmental disasters push them into residential areas. In Northern California, for example, last years wildfires pushed the birds into the nearby cities. Even as the some returned to the burn areas, many are staying put in their new habitat where there is food readily available and fewer predators, according to the Record Searchlight.

That combination can help embolden their lack of fear toward humans. Curson says wild turkeys arent naturally aggressive creatures. €œNaturally, wild turkeys are a very wary bird; they tend to hide, they dont like to be near people,€� he tells CityLab. €œBut if they are in an environment they are free of predators, its possible that they could become quite more confident.

Curson expects that turkeys will become an increasingly familiar sight in backyards, and, to a lesser degree, in cities. Many states continue to impose hunting regulations to keep the local population in check, though in recent years the national number has slowly fallen, likely due climate change and continued development that disrupt habitats. (Turkeys may have been good at adapting to developments, but they are not immune.)

When the birds become aggressive, officials tend to remove them as a quick, though temporary, response. After multiple complaints from Holiday City residents, the New Jersey Division of Fish and Wildlife finally set up bait stations and installed net traps around the neighborhood last week to relocate the gang of disruptive turkeys. Meanwhile, officials are warning residents to assert dominance over the turkeys if they do seem aggressive and scare them away with tools like brooms or garden hoses.

To some people, though, wild turkeys remain a curious sight. Earlier this year, an €œextremely regal-looking wild turkey€� was spotted in Washington, D.C.s Adams Morgan neighborhood, likely having wandered away from the nearby Rock Creek Park. And in this case, the turkey was the one who was followed by residents delighted with its rare and almost majestic presence in the city..."


</>

On Thursday, November 28, 2019 at 1:22:36 AM UTC-5, GM wrote:
> Turkeys running W-I-L-D...!!!
>
> https://www.citylab.com/life/2019/11...uburbs/602563/
>
> Turkeys in Your Neighborhood? Get Used to It.
>
> LINDA POON NOVEMBER 26, 2019
>
> "Wild turkeys have made a remarkable comeback in the U.S. since the early 20th century, leading to more reports of them causing trouble in the neighborhood.

I occasionally see one hanging around the freeway exit ramp about a mile
from my house. Until they develop all the land around here I'd expect
them to stay to the farms and woodlots, and not venture into the
parts that are covered with houses.

Deer are the big probably in the city of Ann Arbor. They expect to cull
150 of them this year, accompanied by the big stink of "They were here
first! We can't kill the beautiful creatures!" versus "They're eating
up the landscaping that I paid big bucks to have someone install!"

Cindy Hamilton

On 2019-11-28 6:44 a.m., Cindy Hamilton wrote:
> On Thursday, November 28, 2019 at 1:22:36 AM UTC-5, GM wrote:
>> Turkeys running W-I-L-D...!!!
>>
>> https://www.citylab.com/life/2019/11...uburbs/602563/
>>
>> Turkeys in Your Neighborhood? Get Used to It.
>>
>> LINDA POON NOVEMBER 26, 2019
>>
>> "Wild turkeys have made a remarkable comeback in the U.S. since the early 20th century, leading to more reports of them causing trouble in the neighborhood.
>
> I occasionally see one hanging around the freeway exit ramp about a mile
> from my house. Until they develop all the land around here I'd expect
> them to stay to the farms and woodlots, and not venture into the
> parts that are covered with houses.
>
> Deer are the big probably in the city of Ann Arbor. They expect to cull
> 150 of them this year, accompanied by the big stink of "They were here
> first! We can't kill the beautiful creatures!" versus "They're eating
> up the landscaping that I paid big bucks to have someone install!"
>
>
We had no turkeys here until the mid 1980s. The province of Ontario and
state of Michigan traded some moose for some turkeys. Apparently the
moose are doing fine in their new home and our turkey population
expanded so much that within a few years they opened up a turkey hunting
season.

It's odd that I often see them in fields or by the road when I am
driving, and I almost always see fresh tracks in the back fields and
bush, but I almost never see them when I am walking back there.

On 2019-11-28, Dave Smith > wrote:

> On 2019-11-28 6:44 a.m., Cindy Hamilton wrote:

>> first! We can't kill the beautiful creatures!" versus "They're eating
>> up the landscaping that I paid big bucks to have someone install!"

> bush, but I almost never see them when I am walking back there.

I can relate.

Never seen a wild turkey, but my buddy sed they had
"invaded" his CA neighborhood, prior to his egress to Kansas.

I'd been to his house dozens of times. Typical CA suburban
neighborhood (from 60's) w/ sidewalks, CA ranch-style housing, and all
that.

I was shocked when he told me (from KS) that wild turkey's had taken
over his neighborhood. He would see 'em coming down the street (via
"sidewalks") when he walked his dog!

Can you shoot 'em? Much like the "wild pig", problem, no. CA is
weird, like that.

nb

On Thursday, November 28, 2019 at 11:19:26 AM UTC-5, notbob wrote:
> On 2019-11-28, Dave Smith > wrote:
>
> > On 2019-11-28 6:44 a.m., Cindy Hamilton wrote:
>
> >> first! We can't kill the beautiful creatures!" versus "They're eating
> >> up the landscaping that I paid big bucks to have someone install!"
>
> > bush, but I almost never see them when I am walking back there.
>
> I can relate.
>
> Never seen a wild turkey, but my buddy sed they had
> "invaded" his CA neighborhood, prior to his egress to Kansas.
>
> I'd been to his house dozens of times. Typical CA suburban
> neighborhood (from 60's) w/ sidewalks, CA ranch-style housing, and all
> that.
>
> I was shocked when he told me (from KS) that wild turkey's had taken
> over his neighborhood. He would see 'em coming down the street (via
> "sidewalks") when he walked his dog!
>
> Can you shoot 'em? Much like the "wild pig", problem, no. CA is
> weird, like that.
>
> nb

If they hadn't systematically tried to eradicate the predators, the
problem wouldn't exist.

Come to think of it, it's been most of a decade since I've seen a coyote
in my back yard.

Cindy Hamilton

On 2019-11-28 11:19 a.m., notbob wrote:
> On 2019-11-28, Dave Smith > wrote:

>> bush, but I almost never see them when I am walking back there.
>
> I can relate.
>
> Never seen a wild turkey, but my buddy sed they had
> "invaded" his CA neighborhood, prior to his egress to Kansas.
>
> I'd been to his house dozens of times. Typical CA suburban
> neighborhood (from 60's) w/ sidewalks, CA ranch-style housing, and all
> that.
>
> I was shocked when he told me (from KS) that wild turkey's had taken
> over his neighborhood. He would see 'em coming down the street (via
> "sidewalks") when he walked his dog!
>
> Can you shoot 'em? Much like the "wild pig", problem, no. CA is
> weird, like that.
>

It's funny that a creature that was so rare in so many places has
flourished so much over the last three decades. There is a hunting
season for them here, bow and arrow or shotgun, and some guys used to
hunt in the woods behind us. They can't do that any more. The old town
council snuck in some changes to the by-laws regarding discharge of
firearms. Discharge of firearms was understandably not allowed in the
areas zones residential. For some reason, the extended that along a
corridor that includes our road and the next one to the north. The ban
includes rifles, shot guns, pellet guns, bow and arrow and crossbow.

There is a possibility that will be changed. People in this town were
fed up with the nonsense of the old town council, so much so that the
entire old council was voted out.

On 11/28/2019 10:28 AM, Cindy Hamilton wrote:
> On Thursday, November 28, 2019 at 11:19:26 AM UTC-5, notbob wrote:
>> On 2019-11-28, Dave Smith > wrote:
>>
>>> On 2019-11-28 6:44 a.m., Cindy Hamilton wrote:
>>>> first! We can't kill the beautiful creatures!" versus "They're eating
>>>> up the landscaping that I paid big bucks to have someone install!"
>>> bush, but I almost never see them when I am walking back there.
>> I can relate.
>>
>> Never seen a wild turkey, but my buddy sed they had
>> "invaded" his CA neighborhood, prior to his egress to Kansas.
>>
>> I'd been to his house dozens of times. Typical CA suburban
>> neighborhood (from 60's) w/ sidewalks, CA ranch-style housing, and all
>> that.
>>
>> I was shocked when he told me (from KS) that wild turkey's had taken
>> over his neighborhood. He would see 'em coming down the street (via
>> "sidewalks") when he walked his dog!
>>
>> Can you shoot 'em? Much like the "wild pig", problem, no. CA is
>> weird, like that.
>>
>> nb
> If they hadn't systematically tried to eradicate the predators, the
> problem wouldn't exist.
>
> Come to think of it, it's been most of a decade since I've seen a coyote
> in my back yard.
>
> Cindy Hamilton

Â* We haven't seen any coyotes in our yard , but we can hear them quite
often . Too bad they don't eat armadillos . Those are becoming a problem
here .

--
Snag
Yes , I'm old
and crochety - and armed .
Get outta my woods !

On Thursday, November 28, 2019 at 11:47:01 AM UTC-5, Terry Coombs wrote:
> On 11/28/2019 10:28 AM, Cindy Hamilton wrote:
> > On Thursday, November 28, 2019 at 11:19:26 AM UTC-5, notbob wrote:
> >> On 2019-11-28, Dave Smith > wrote:
> >>
> >>> On 2019-11-28 6:44 a.m., Cindy Hamilton wrote:
> >>>> first! We can't kill the beautiful creatures!" versus "They're eating
> >>>> up the landscaping that I paid big bucks to have someone install!"
> >>> bush, but I almost never see them when I am walking back there.
> >> I can relate.
> >>
> >> Never seen a wild turkey, but my buddy sed they had
> >> "invaded" his CA neighborhood, prior to his egress to Kansas.
> >>
> >> I'd been to his house dozens of times. Typical CA suburban
> >> neighborhood (from 60's) w/ sidewalks, CA ranch-style housing, and all
> >> that.
> >>
> >> I was shocked when he told me (from KS) that wild turkey's had taken
> >> over his neighborhood. He would see 'em coming down the street (via
> >> "sidewalks") when he walked his dog!
> >>
> >> Can you shoot 'em? Much like the "wild pig", problem, no. CA is
> >> weird, like that.
> >>
> >> nb
> > If they hadn't systematically tried to eradicate the predators, the
> > problem wouldn't exist.
> >
> > Come to think of it, it's been most of a decade since I've seen a coyote
> > in my back yard.
> >
> > Cindy Hamilton
>
> Â* We haven't seen any coyotes in our yard , but we can hear them quite
> often . Too bad they don't eat armadillos . Those are becoming a problem
> here .

I can't hear much from inside my bunker (masonry house). But I've seen
them in the yard. One very hard winter they were eating bird seed.

Armadillos are one of the two main reasons I'm opposed to global warming.
The other is fire ants.

Oh, three: when we get low on fresh water, people will either move here
or want to pump the Great Lakes to their arid hellholes.

Cindy Hamilton

On 28 Nov 2019 16:19:21 GMT, notbob wrote:

> Can you shoot 'em?

Huh? Either you suffered a horribly miss-spent youth, or you are spoor from
an alien creche-pod. The 'best practices' manual for hunting and cooking
wild turkey always ends with 'wild turkey surprise':

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FOTlNOZB4Zo

On Thu, 28 Nov 2019 10:46:52 -0600, Terry Coombs >
wrote:

>On 11/28/2019 10:28 AM, Cindy Hamilton wrote:

>> If they hadn't systematically tried to eradicate the predators, the
>> problem wouldn't exist.
>>
>> Come to think of it, it's been most of a decade since I've seen a coyote
>> in my back yard.
>>
>> Cindy Hamilton
>
> Â* We haven't seen any coyotes in our yard , but we can hear them quite
>often . Too bad they don't eat armadillos . Those are becoming a problem
>here .

I'm sure they feel the same way about you.

On Thursday, November 28, 2019 at 6:47:01 AM UTC-10, Terry Coombs wrote:
> On 11/28/2019 10:28 AM, Cindy Hamilton wrote:
> > On Thursday, November 28, 2019 at 11:19:26 AM UTC-5, notbob wrote:
> >> On 2019-11-28, Dave Smith > wrote:
> >>
> >>> On 2019-11-28 6:44 a.m., Cindy Hamilton wrote:
> >>>> first! We can't kill the beautiful creatures!" versus "They're eating
> >>>> up the landscaping that I paid big bucks to have someone install!"
> >>> bush, but I almost never see them when I am walking back there.
> >> I can relate.
> >>
> >> Never seen a wild turkey, but my buddy sed they had
> >> "invaded" his CA neighborhood, prior to his egress to Kansas.
> >>
> >> I'd been to his house dozens of times. Typical CA suburban
> >> neighborhood (from 60's) w/ sidewalks, CA ranch-style housing, and all
> >> that.
> >>
> >> I was shocked when he told me (from KS) that wild turkey's had taken
> >> over his neighborhood. He would see 'em coming down the street (via
> >> "sidewalks") when he walked his dog!
> >>
> >> Can you shoot 'em? Much like the "wild pig", problem, no. CA is
> >> weird, like that.
> >>
> >> nb
> > If they hadn't systematically tried to eradicate the predators, the
> > problem wouldn't exist.
> >
> > Come to think of it, it's been most of a decade since I've seen a coyote
> > in my back yard.
> >
> > Cindy Hamilton
>
> Â* We haven't seen any coyotes in our yard , but we can hear them quite
> often . Too bad they don't eat armadillos . Those are becoming a problem
> here .
>
> --
> Snag
> Yes , I'm old
> and crochety - and armed .
> Get outta my woods !

I've never heard one of those in real life. That would probably give me the heebie-jeebies. The coyotes, not the armadillos. Although I've never heard an armadillo either so maybe...

On Thursday, November 28, 2019 at 1:25:04 PM UTC-6, Bruce wrote:
>
> On Thu, 28 Nov 2019 10:46:52 -0600, Terry Coombs >
> wrote:
>
> > Â* We haven't seen any coyotes in our yard , but we can hear them quite
> >often . Too bad they don't eat armadillos . Those are becoming a problem
> >here .
>
> I'm sure they feel the same way about you.
>
They are an invasive breed. Not only do they like feasting on chickens if
you raise them, they also love small tasty pets such as cats and dogs. But
they do make beautiful coats; I've only seen one coat made from the belly
fur of one. It was a beautiful garment.

On Thu, 28 Nov 2019 03:44:09 -0800 (PST), Cindy Hamilton
> wrote:

>On Thursday, November 28, 2019 at 1:22:36 AM UTC-5, GM wrote:
>> Turkeys running W-I-L-D...!!!
>>
>> https://www.citylab.com/life/2019/11...uburbs/602563/
>>
>> Turkeys in Your Neighborhood? Get Used to It.
>>
>> LINDA POON NOVEMBER 26, 2019
>>
>> "Wild turkeys have made a remarkable comeback in the U.S. since the early 20th century, leading to more reports of them causing trouble in the neighborhood.
>
>I occasionally see one hanging around the freeway exit ramp about a mile
>from my house. Until they develop all the land around here I'd expect
>them to stay to the farms and woodlots, and not venture into the
>parts that are covered with houses.
>
>Deer are the big probably in the city of Ann Arbor. They expect to cull
>150 of them this year, accompanied by the big stink of "They were here
>first! We can't kill the beautiful creatures!" versus "They're eating
>up the landscaping that I paid big bucks to have someone install!"
>
>Cindy Hamilton

Ann Arborites are lazy, cheapo, IGNORANT *******S who can't fence
their landscaping... mishshuganites gotta have the lowest IQ on the
planet. Yoose not well... WTF is so difficult about erecting a
temporary fence... I plant constantly, only I place a fence for the
first 2-3 years until the plants mature... plus there's a long list of
plants that deer wont eat. Ann Arborites are dumber than deer shit.

On Thursday, November 28, 2019 at 3:06:35 PM UTC-5, Sheldon wrote:
> On Thu, 28 Nov 2019 03:44:09 -0800 (PST), Cindy Hamilton
> > wrote:
>
> >On Thursday, November 28, 2019 at 1:22:36 AM UTC-5, GM wrote:
> >> Turkeys running W-I-L-D...!!!
> >>
> >> https://www.citylab.com/life/2019/11...uburbs/602563/
> >>
> >> Turkeys in Your Neighborhood? Get Used to It.
> >>
> >> LINDA POON NOVEMBER 26, 2019
> >>
> >> "Wild turkeys have made a remarkable comeback in the U.S. since the early 20th century, leading to more reports of them causing trouble in the neighborhood.
> >
> >I occasionally see one hanging around the freeway exit ramp about a mile
> >from my house. Until they develop all the land around here I'd expect
> >them to stay to the farms and woodlots, and not venture into the
> >parts that are covered with houses.
> >
> >Deer are the big probably in the city of Ann Arbor. They expect to cull
> >150 of them this year, accompanied by the big stink of "They were here
> >first! We can't kill the beautiful creatures!" versus "They're eating
> >up the landscaping that I paid big bucks to have someone install!"
> >
> >Cindy Hamilton
>
> Ann Arborites are lazy, cheapo, IGNORANT *******S who can't fence
> their landscaping... mishshuganites gotta have the lowest IQ on the
> planet. Yoose not well... WTF is so difficult about erecting a
> temporary fence... I plant constantly, only I place a fence for the
> first 2-3 years until the plants mature... plus there's a long list of
> plants that deer wont eat. Ann Arborites are dumber than deer shit.

They're so lazy and ignorant that they can afford million-dollar houses
and people to plant their landscaping for them.

Cindy Hamilton

On 11/28/2019 1:38 PM, dsi1 wrote:
> On Thursday, November 28, 2019 at 6:47:01 AM UTC-10, Terry Coombs wrote:
>> On 11/28/2019 10:28 AM, Cindy Hamilton wrote:
>>> On Thursday, November 28, 2019 at 11:19:26 AM UTC-5, notbob wrote:
>>>> On 2019-11-28, Dave Smith > wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> On 2019-11-28 6:44 a.m., Cindy Hamilton wrote:
>>>>>> first! We can't kill the beautiful creatures!" versus "They're eating
>>>>>> up the landscaping that I paid big bucks to have someone install!"
>>>>> bush, but I almost never see them when I am walking back there.
>>>> I can relate.
>>>>
>>>> Never seen a wild turkey, but my buddy sed they had
>>>> "invaded" his CA neighborhood, prior to his egress to Kansas.
>>>>
>>>> I'd been to his house dozens of times. Typical CA suburban
>>>> neighborhood (from 60's) w/ sidewalks, CA ranch-style housing, and all
>>>> that.
>>>>
>>>> I was shocked when he told me (from KS) that wild turkey's had taken
>>>> over his neighborhood. He would see 'em coming down the street (via
>>>> "sidewalks") when he walked his dog!
>>>>
>>>> Can you shoot 'em? Much like the "wild pig", problem, no. CA is
>>>> weird, like that.
>>>>
>>>> nb
>>> If they hadn't systematically tried to eradicate the predators, the
>>> problem wouldn't exist.
>>>
>>> Come to think of it, it's been most of a decade since I've seen a coyote
>>> in my back yard.
>>>
>>> Cindy Hamilton
>> Â* We haven't seen any coyotes in our yard , but we can hear them quite
>> often . Too bad they don't eat armadillos . Those are becoming a problem
>> here .
>>
>> --
>> Snag
>> Yes , I'm old
>> and crochety - and armed .
>> Get outta my woods !
> I've never heard one of those in real life. That would probably give me the heebie-jeebies. The coyotes, not the armadillos. Although I've never heard an armadillo either so maybe...

Â* Sounds just like they do in the movies , not at all creepy . It's
when you can hear their "chatter" - little yips , growls and soft barks
that you should be worried . Because if you can hear that they're
probably within fifty feet or so . Coyotes are OK in my book , they
perform some important tasks out in the woods , like controlling rodent
populations and cleaning up dead animals .

--
Snag
Yes , I'm old
and crochety - and armed .
Get outta my woods !

On Thursday, November 28, 2019 at 12:41:26 PM UTC-10, Terry Coombs wrote:
> On 11/28/2019 1:38 PM, dsi1 wrote:
> > On Thursday, November 28, 2019 at 6:47:01 AM UTC-10, Terry Coombs wrote:
> >> On 11/28/2019 10:28 AM, Cindy Hamilton wrote:
> >>> On Thursday, November 28, 2019 at 11:19:26 AM UTC-5, notbob wrote:
> >>>> On 2019-11-28, Dave Smith > wrote:
> >>>>
> >>>>> On 2019-11-28 6:44 a.m., Cindy Hamilton wrote:
> >>>>>> first! We can't kill the beautiful creatures!" versus "They're eating
> >>>>>> up the landscaping that I paid big bucks to have someone install!"
> >>>>> bush, but I almost never see them when I am walking back there.
> >>>> I can relate.
> >>>>
> >>>> Never seen a wild turkey, but my buddy sed they had
> >>>> "invaded" his CA neighborhood, prior to his egress to Kansas.
> >>>>
> >>>> I'd been to his house dozens of times. Typical CA suburban
> >>>> neighborhood (from 60's) w/ sidewalks, CA ranch-style housing, and all
> >>>> that.
> >>>>
> >>>> I was shocked when he told me (from KS) that wild turkey's had taken
> >>>> over his neighborhood. He would see 'em coming down the street (via
> >>>> "sidewalks") when he walked his dog!
> >>>>
> >>>> Can you shoot 'em? Much like the "wild pig", problem, no. CA is
> >>>> weird, like that.
> >>>>
> >>>> nb
> >>> If they hadn't systematically tried to eradicate the predators, the
> >>> problem wouldn't exist.
> >>>
> >>> Come to think of it, it's been most of a decade since I've seen a coyote
> >>> in my back yard.
> >>>
> >>> Cindy Hamilton
> >> Â* We haven't seen any coyotes in our yard , but we can hear them quite
> >> often . Too bad they don't eat armadillos . Those are becoming a problem
> >> here .
> >>
> >> --
> >> Snag
> >> Yes , I'm old
> >> and crochety - and armed .
> >> Get outta my woods !
> > I've never heard one of those in real life. That would probably give me the heebie-jeebies. The coyotes, not the armadillos. Although I've never heard an armadillo either so maybe...
>
> Â* Sounds just like they do in the movies , not at all creepy . It's
> when you can hear their "chatter" - little yips , growls and soft barks
> that you should be worried . Because if you can hear that they're
> probably within fifty feet or so . Coyotes are OK in my book , they
> perform some important tasks out in the woods , like controlling rodent
> populations and cleaning up dead animals .
>
> --
> Snag
> Yes , I'm old
> and crochety - and armed .
> Get outta my woods !

I'm probably creeped out by the silence that allows one to hear distant, lonely, sounds. I was in a soundproof room once and it was uncomfortable. My tinnitus is especially loud and you can hear your own heartbeat. It's mostly unnatural. Do coyotes attack people? I don't recall that happening. I suppose they might if you find yourself in a herd of them.

Cindy Hamilton wrote:
> On Thursday, November 28, 2019 at 3:06:35 PM UTC-5, Sheldon wrote:
>> On Thu, 28 Nov 2019 03:44:09 -0800 (PST), Cindy Hamilton
>> > wrote:
>>
>>> On Thursday, November 28, 2019 at 1:22:36 AM UTC-5, GM wrote:
>>>> Turkeys running W-I-L-D...!!!
>>>>
>>>> https://www.citylab.com/life/2019/11...uburbs/602563/
>>>>
>>>> Turkeys in Your Neighborhood? Get Used to It.
>>>>
>>>> LINDA POON NOVEMBER 26, 2019
>>>>
>>>> "Wild turkeys have made a remarkable comeback in the U.S. since the early 20th century, leading to more reports of them causing trouble in the neighborhood.
>>>
>>> I occasionally see one hanging around the freeway exit ramp about a mile
>> >from my house. Until they develop all the land around here I'd expect
>>> them to stay to the farms and woodlots, and not venture into the
>>> parts that are covered with houses.
>>>
>>> Deer are the big probably in the city of Ann Arbor. They expect to cull
>>> 150 of them this year, accompanied by the big stink of "They were here
>>> first! We can't kill the beautiful creatures!" versus "They're eating
>>> up the landscaping that I paid big bucks to have someone install!"
>>>
>>> Cindy Hamilton
>>
>> Ann Arborites are lazy, cheapo, IGNORANT *******S who can't fence
>> their landscaping... mishshuganites gotta have the lowest IQ on the
>> planet. Yoose not well... WTF is so difficult about erecting a
>> temporary fence... I plant constantly, only I place a fence for the
>> first 2-3 years until the plants mature... plus there's a long list of
>> plants that deer wont eat. Ann Arborites are dumber than deer shit.
>
> They're so lazy and ignorant that they can afford million-dollar houses
> and people to plant their landscaping for them.
>
> Cindy Hamilton
>

That's what attracts Popeye from the east. He comes out to ann arbor
to hump all the wimmens landscapers planting wild bushes for yoose.

Then he sails back to noo yawk ... way up at 35000 ft in the cats skils.

On Thursday, November 28, 2019 at 6:08:57 PM UTC-5, dsi1 wrote:
> On Thursday, November 28, 2019 at 12:41:26 PM UTC-10, Terry Coombs wrote:
> > On 11/28/2019 1:38 PM, dsi1 wrote:
> > > On Thursday, November 28, 2019 at 6:47:01 AM UTC-10, Terry Coombs wrote:
> > >> On 11/28/2019 10:28 AM, Cindy Hamilton wrote:
> > >>> On Thursday, November 28, 2019 at 11:19:26 AM UTC-5, notbob wrote:
> > >>>> On 2019-11-28, Dave Smith > wrote:
> > >>>>
> > >>>>> On 2019-11-28 6:44 a.m., Cindy Hamilton wrote:
> > >>>>>> first! We can't kill the beautiful creatures!" versus "They're eating
> > >>>>>> up the landscaping that I paid big bucks to have someone install!"
> > >>>>> bush, but I almost never see them when I am walking back there.
> > >>>> I can relate.
> > >>>>
> > >>>> Never seen a wild turkey, but my buddy sed they had
> > >>>> "invaded" his CA neighborhood, prior to his egress to Kansas.
> > >>>>
> > >>>> I'd been to his house dozens of times. Typical CA suburban
> > >>>> neighborhood (from 60's) w/ sidewalks, CA ranch-style housing, and all
> > >>>> that.
> > >>>>
> > >>>> I was shocked when he told me (from KS) that wild turkey's had taken
> > >>>> over his neighborhood. He would see 'em coming down the street (via
> > >>>> "sidewalks") when he walked his dog!
> > >>>>
> > >>>> Can you shoot 'em? Much like the "wild pig", problem, no. CA is
> > >>>> weird, like that.
> > >>>>
> > >>>> nb
> > >>> If they hadn't systematically tried to eradicate the predators, the
> > >>> problem wouldn't exist.
> > >>>
> > >>> Come to think of it, it's been most of a decade since I've seen a coyote
> > >>> in my back yard.
> > >>>
> > >>> Cindy Hamilton
> > >> Â* We haven't seen any coyotes in our yard , but we can hear them quite
> > >> often . Too bad they don't eat armadillos . Those are becoming a problem
> > >> here .
> > >>
> > >> --
> > >> Snag
> > >> Yes , I'm old
> > >> and crochety - and armed .
> > >> Get outta my woods !
> > > I've never heard one of those in real life. That would probably give me the heebie-jeebies. The coyotes, not the armadillos. Although I've never heard an armadillo either so maybe...
> >
> > Â* Sounds just like they do in the movies , not at all creepy . It's
> > when you can hear their "chatter" - little yips , growls and soft barks
> > that you should be worried . Because if you can hear that they're
> > probably within fifty feet or so . Coyotes are OK in my book , they
> > perform some important tasks out in the woods , like controlling rodent
> > populations and cleaning up dead animals .
> >
> > --
> > Snag
> > Yes , I'm old
> > and crochety - and armed .
> > Get outta my woods !
>
> I'm probably creeped out by the silence that allows one to hear distant, lonely, sounds. I was in a soundproof room once and it was uncomfortable. My tinnitus is especially loud and you can hear your own heartbeat. It's mostly unnatural. Do coyotes attack people? I don't recall that happening. I suppose they might if you find yourself in a herd of them.

They may attack young children. I'd keep an eye on your kids when out in the bush.

On 2019-11-28 6:24 p.m., A Moose in Love wrote:
> On Thursday, November 28, 2019 at 6:08:57 PM UTC-5, dsi1 wrote:
>> On Thursday, November 28, 2019 at 12:41:26 PM UTC-10, Terry Coombs
>> wrote:
>>> On 11/28/2019 1:38 PM, dsi1 wrote:
>>>> On Thursday, November 28, 2019 at 6:47:01 AM UTC-10, Terry
>>>> Coombs wrote:
>>>>> On 11/28/2019 10:28 AM, Cindy Hamilton wrote:
>>>>>> On Thursday, November 28, 2019 at 11:19:26 AM UTC-5, notbob
>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>> On 2019-11-28, Dave Smith >
>>>>>>> wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> On 2019-11-28 6:44 a.m., Cindy Hamilton wrote:
>>>>>>>>> first! We can't kill the beautiful creatures!"
>>>>>>>>> versus "They're eating up the landscaping that I paid
>>>>>>>>> big bucks to have someone install!"
>>>>>>>> bush, but I almost never see them when I am walking
>>>>>>>> back there.
>>>>>>> I can relate.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Never seen a wild turkey, but my buddy sed they had
>>>>>>> "invaded" his CA neighborhood, prior to his egress to
>>>>>>> Kansas.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I'd been to his house dozens of times. Typical CA
>>>>>>> suburban neighborhood (from 60's) w/ sidewalks, CA
>>>>>>> ranch-style housing, and all that.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I was shocked when he told me (from KS) that wild
>>>>>>> turkey's had taken over his neighborhood. He would see
>>>>>>> 'em coming down the street (via "sidewalks") when he
>>>>>>> walked his dog!
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Can you shoot 'em? Much like the "wild pig", problem,
>>>>>>> no. CA is weird, like that.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> nb
>>>>>> If they hadn't systematically tried to eradicate the
>>>>>> predators, the problem wouldn't exist.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Come to think of it, it's been most of a decade since I've
>>>>>> seen a coyote in my back yard.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Cindy Hamilton
>>>>> We haven't seen any coyotes in our yard , but we can hear
>>>>> them quite often . Too bad they don't eat armadillos . Those
>>>>> are becoming a problem here .
>>>>>
>>>>> -- Snag Yes , I'm old and crochety - and armed . Get outta my
>>>>> woods !
>>>> I've never heard one of those in real life. That would probably
>>>> give me the heebie-jeebies. The coyotes, not the armadillos.
>>>> Although I've never heard an armadillo either so maybe...
>>>
>>> Sounds just like they do in the movies , not at all creepy .
>>> It's when you can hear their "chatter" - little yips , growls and
>>> soft barks that you should be worried . Because if you can hear
>>> that they're probably within fifty feet or so . Coyotes are OK in
>>> my book , they perform some important tasks out in the woods ,
>>> like controlling rodent populations and cleaning up dead animals
>>> .
>>>
>>> -- Snag Yes , I'm old and crochety - and armed . Get outta my
>>> woods !
>>
>> I'm probably creeped out by the silence that allows one to hear
>> distant, lonely, sounds. I was in a soundproof room once and it was
>> uncomfortable. My tinnitus is especially loud and you can hear your
>> own heartbeat. It's mostly unnatural. Do coyotes attack people? I
>> don't recall that happening. I suppose they might if you find
>> yourself in a herd of them.
>
> They may attack young children. I'd keep an eye on your kids when
> out in the bush.
>

Not just children. About 10 years ago a Toronto woman was killed by
coyotes in Cape Breton Highlands National Park.

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-...reton-1.779304

On Thursday, November 28, 2019 at 1:24:06 PM UTC-10, A Moose in Love wrote:
> On Thursday, November 28, 2019 at 6:08:57 PM UTC-5, dsi1 wrote:
> > On Thursday, November 28, 2019 at 12:41:26 PM UTC-10, Terry Coombs wrote:
> > > On 11/28/2019 1:38 PM, dsi1 wrote:
> > > > On Thursday, November 28, 2019 at 6:47:01 AM UTC-10, Terry Coombs wrote:
> > > >> On 11/28/2019 10:28 AM, Cindy Hamilton wrote:
> > > >>> On Thursday, November 28, 2019 at 11:19:26 AM UTC-5, notbob wrote:
> > > >>>> On 2019-11-28, Dave Smith > wrote:
> > > >>>>
> > > >>>>> On 2019-11-28 6:44 a.m., Cindy Hamilton wrote:
> > > >>>>>> first! We can't kill the beautiful creatures!" versus "They're eating
> > > >>>>>> up the landscaping that I paid big bucks to have someone install!"
> > > >>>>> bush, but I almost never see them when I am walking back there.
> > > >>>> I can relate.
> > > >>>>
> > > >>>> Never seen a wild turkey, but my buddy sed they had
> > > >>>> "invaded" his CA neighborhood, prior to his egress to Kansas.
> > > >>>>
> > > >>>> I'd been to his house dozens of times. Typical CA suburban
> > > >>>> neighborhood (from 60's) w/ sidewalks, CA ranch-style housing, and all
> > > >>>> that.
> > > >>>>
> > > >>>> I was shocked when he told me (from KS) that wild turkey's had taken
> > > >>>> over his neighborhood. He would see 'em coming down the street (via
> > > >>>> "sidewalks") when he walked his dog!
> > > >>>>
> > > >>>> Can you shoot 'em? Much like the "wild pig", problem, no. CA is
> > > >>>> weird, like that.
> > > >>>>
> > > >>>> nb
> > > >>> If they hadn't systematically tried to eradicate the predators, the
> > > >>> problem wouldn't exist.
> > > >>>
> > > >>> Come to think of it, it's been most of a decade since I've seen a coyote
> > > >>> in my back yard.
> > > >>>
> > > >>> Cindy Hamilton
> > > >> Â* We haven't seen any coyotes in our yard , but we can hear them quite
> > > >> often . Too bad they don't eat armadillos . Those are becoming a problem
> > > >> here .
> > > >>
> > > >> --
> > > >> Snag
> > > >> Yes , I'm old
> > > >> and crochety - and armed .
> > > >> Get outta my woods !
> > > > I've never heard one of those in real life. That would probably give me the heebie-jeebies. The coyotes, not the armadillos. Although I've never heard an armadillo either so maybe...
> > >
> > > Â* Sounds just like they do in the movies , not at all creepy . It's
> > > when you can hear their "chatter" - little yips , growls and soft barks
> > > that you should be worried . Because if you can hear that they're
> > > probably within fifty feet or so . Coyotes are OK in my book , they
> > > perform some important tasks out in the woods , like controlling rodent
> > > populations and cleaning up dead animals .
> > >
> > > --
> > > Snag
> > > Yes , I'm old
> > > and crochety - and armed .
> > > Get outta my woods !
> >
> > I'm probably creeped out by the silence that allows one to hear distant, lonely, sounds. I was in a soundproof room once and it was uncomfortable. My tinnitus is especially loud and you can hear your own heartbeat. It's mostly unnatural. Do coyotes attack people? I don't recall that happening. I suppose they might if you find yourself in a herd of them.
>
> They may attack young children. I'd keep an eye on your kids when out in the bush.

I shall take that under advisement. Better yet, if I find myself out in the bush, I just won't leave the car. On this rock you might get attacked by wild pig but I've never heard that happening to anybody. It is scary to find one stumbling before you from out of the hills at night. That's something that has happened to my wife. Luckily, the only pig we have around here is in a slow cooker. I got that sucker right where he belongs.

Dave Smith wrote:
....
> We had no turkeys here until the mid 1980s. The province of Ontario and
> state of Michigan traded some moose for some turkeys. Apparently the
> moose are doing fine in their new home and our turkey population
> expanded so much that within a few years they opened up a turkey hunting
> season.

thank you for the mooses! i still have yet
to see one in the wild myself (even after living in
the UP of MI for 15 yrs and also driving around
Lake Superior and trying to see them we still never
quite managed it. i came close one evening but
failed...)


> It's odd that I often see them in fields or by the road when I am
> driving, and I almost always see fresh tracks in the back fields and
> bush, but I almost never see them when I am walking back there.

we have them here in the wild around us, a lot of them,
i'm glad to see them out in the fields. they rarely get
close to the yard here, but once in a while they might
wander through.

do you have turkey vultures?


songbird

I've not seen any turkeys here, but we do have sandhill cranes. They
can grow to 4' tall. Usually two at a time as they mate for life.

There are a pair that visits out street at least 5 days a week. My
neighbor fed them once, not they come back and stand in his driveway and
call him.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crO2eprO6nY
https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/p...andhill-crane/

On Thu, 28 Nov 2019 20:35:58 -0500, Ed Pawlowski > wrote:

>I've not seen any turkeys here, but we do have sandhill cranes. They
>can grow to 4' tall. Usually two at a time as they mate for life.
>
>There are a pair that visits out street at least 5 days a week. My
>neighbor fed them once, not they come back and stand in his driveway and
>call him.
>
>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crO2eprO6nY
>https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/p...andhill-crane/

Great pics, I love wildlife.

Ed Pawlowski wrote:

> I've not seen any turkeys here, but we do have sandhill cranes. They
> can grow to 4' tall. Usually two at a time as they mate for life.
>
> There are a pair that visits out street at least 5 days a week. My
> neighbor fed them once, not they come back and stand in his driveway and
> call him.
>
> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crO2eprO6nY
> https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/p...andhill-crane/


Do you have iguanas by you, Ed, I've read that they are becoming a real problem in FL...

--
Best
Greg

On 11/28/2019 8:45 PM, GM wrote:
> Ed Pawlowski wrote:
>
>> I've not seen any turkeys here, but we do have sandhill cranes. They
>> can grow to 4' tall. Usually two at a time as they mate for life.
>>
>> There are a pair that visits out street at least 5 days a week. My
>> neighbor fed them once, not they come back and stand in his driveway and
>> call him.
>>
>> https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=crO2eprO6nY
>> https://myfwc.com/wildlifehabitats/p...andhill-crane/
>
>
> Do you have iguanas by you, Ed, I've read that they are becoming a real problem in FL...
>

They are further south, along with the pythons. The number of python
hunters increased this year too as they push to get rid of them.

I see a lot of birds but only two alligators so far.

songbird wrote:
> do you have turkey vultures?
>
>
> songbird

I hear Popeye goes up there occasionally to buy his crystal palace.

On 2019-11-28 7:40 p.m., songbird wrote:
> Dave Smith wrote:
> ...
>> We had no turkeys here until the mid 1980s. The province of Ontario and
>> state of Michigan traded some moose for some turkeys. Apparently the
>> moose are doing fine in their new home and our turkey population
>> expanded so much that within a few years they opened up a turkey hunting
>> season.
>
> thank you for the mooses! i still have yet
> to see one in the wild myself (even after living in
> the UP of MI for 15 yrs and also driving around
> Lake Superior and trying to see them we still never
> quite managed it. i came close one evening but
> failed...)

You might consider yourself lucky that you have not seen one near the
road. I had a real scare early one morning in Algonquin Park. He woke
up early and it was pouring rain. We packed up our camping gear into my
Honda Civic and hit the road by about 6 am. We came down a hill and
around a corner and there was a bull moose standing right at the edge of
the road.


>
>
>> It's odd that I often see them in fields or by the road when I am
>> driving, and I almost always see fresh tracks in the back fields and
>> bush, but I almost never see them when I am walking back there.
>
> we have them here in the wild around us, a lot of them,
> i'm glad to see them out in the fields. they rarely get
> close to the yard here, but once in a while they might
> wander through.
>
> do you have turkey vultures?

That is another recent arrival. I first saw them when I started with my
long time employer. I was driving truck for the stock department and
my Wednesday route took me up the Grand River from Lake Erie up to
Brantford. I used to see them quite regularly along the river. That a
42 years ago. Now I see them everywhere.

We are also seeing the return of bald eagles and ospreys.

On Thursday, November 28, 2019 at 7:58:26 PM UTC-5, songbird wrote:

> do you have turkey vultures?

We do. One day I came home from work and found a couple in the back
yard, eating a dead squirrel. Big damned birds, and not very attractive.

Cindy Hamilton

On Thursday, November 28, 2019 at 10:42:33 PM UTC-5, Dave Smith wrote:
> On 2019-11-28 7:40 p.m., songbird wrote:
> > Dave Smith wrote:
> > ...
> >> We had no turkeys here until the mid 1980s. The province of Ontario and
> >> state of Michigan traded some moose for some turkeys. Apparently the
> >> moose are doing fine in their new home and our turkey population
> >> expanded so much that within a few years they opened up a turkey hunting
> >> season.
> >
> > thank you for the mooses! i still have yet
> > to see one in the wild myself (even after living in
> > the UP of MI for 15 yrs and also driving around
> > Lake Superior and trying to see them we still never
> > quite managed it. i came close one evening but
> > failed...)
>
> You might consider yourself lucky that you have not seen one near the
> road. I had a real scare early one morning in Algonquin Park. He woke
> up early and it was pouring rain. We packed up our camping gear into my
> Honda Civic and hit the road by about 6 am. We came down a hill and
> around a corner and there was a bull moose standing right at the edge of
> the road.
>

I got charged by a moose while driving in Newfoundland. It ran right up to my car, and instead of ramming it, it just ran alongside it for a bit. About 1/2 hour before that I was stopped and ticketed for speeding by the Mounties. The guy told me to slow down, he said it may help if got charged by a moose. He mentioned that a friend of his was charged once, and the moose ended up getting it's head ripped off when it broke through the back window.
NL has a lot of moose.

>
> >
> >
> >> It's odd that I often see them in fields or by the road when I am
> >> driving, and I almost always see fresh tracks in the back fields and
> >> bush, but I almost never see them when I am walking back there.
> >
> > we have them here in the wild around us, a lot of them,
> > i'm glad to see them out in the fields. they rarely get
> > close to the yard here, but once in a while they might
> > wander through.
> >
> > do you have turkey vultures?
>
> That is another recent arrival. I first saw them when I started with my
> long time employer. I was driving truck for the stock department and
> my Wednesday route took me up the Grand River from Lake Erie up to
> Brantford. I used to see them quite regularly along the river. That a
> 42 years ago. Now I see them everywhere.
>
> We are also seeing the return of bald eagles and ospreys.

On Fri, 29 Nov 2019 03:35:26 -0800 (PST), Cindy Hamilton
> wrote:

>On Thursday, November 28, 2019 at 7:58:26 PM UTC-5, songbird wrote:
>
>> do you have turkey vultures?
>
>We do. One day I came home from work and found a couple in the back
>yard, eating a dead squirrel. Big damned birds, and not very attractive.
>
>Cindy Hamilton

We have turkey vultures here, they do a great job disposing of road
kill. On the ground they are ugly critters but no other bird is more
spectacular in flight.

Dave Smith wrote:
> On 2019-11-28 7:40 p.m., songbird wrote:
>> Dave Smith wrote:
>> ...
>>> We had no turkeys here until the mid 1980s. The province of Ontario and
>>> state of Michigan traded some moose for some turkeys. Apparently the
>>> moose are doing fine in their new home and our turkey population
>>> expanded so much that within a few years they opened up a turkey hunting
>>> season.
>>
>> thank you for the mooses! i still have yet
>> to see one in the wild myself (even after living in
>> the UP of MI for 15 yrs and also driving around
>> Lake Superior and trying to see them we still never
>> quite managed it. i came close one evening but
>> failed...)
>
> You might consider yourself lucky that you have not seen one near the
> road. I had a real scare early one morning in Algonquin Park. He woke
> up early and it was pouring rain. We packed up our camping gear into my
> Honda Civic and hit the road by about 6 am. We came down a hill and
> around a corner and there was a bull moose standing right at the edge of
> the road.

i sold my Honda Civic two summer's ago. had it since
that summer trip around the lake in '97 (time sure does
fly by!)... yes, i've seen pictures in the paper of what
a moose/car/truck collision looks like.


>>> It's odd that I often see them in fields or by the road when I am
>>> driving, and I almost always see fresh tracks in the back fields and
>>> bush, but I almost never see them when I am walking back there.
>>
>> we have them here in the wild around us, a lot of them,
>> i'm glad to see them out in the fields. they rarely get
>> close to the yard here, but once in a while they might
>> wander through.
>>
>> do you have turkey vultures?
>
> That is another recent arrival. I first saw them when I started with my
> long time employer. I was driving truck for the stock department and
> my Wednesday route took me up the Grand River from Lake Erie up to
> Brantford. I used to see them quite regularly along the river. That a
> 42 years ago. Now I see them everywhere.

they are common here and have been as long as i've
been in this area.

i enjoy watching them fly:

http://www.anthive.com/img/critters/...ltures_thm.jpg

http://www.anthive.com/img/misc/p8230010_soaring.avi


> We are also seeing the return of bald eagles and ospreys.

we've had bald eagles around, they scavenge the many dead
deer along the roads.


songbird

Cindy Hamilton wrote:
> On Thursday, November 28, 2019 at 7:58:26 PM UTC-5, songbird wrote:
>
>> do you have turkey vultures?
>
> We do. One day I came home from work and found a couple in the back
> yard, eating a dead squirrel. Big damned birds, and not very attractive.

yeah, from close up they're certainly not going to be
winning any beauty contests - but that's ok, i like a
lot of creatures that others find ugly.

wild turkeys are pretty ugly too (especially dead ones
that have been hit by a car that you need to pick up in
the pouring rain). ghods that stunk, i had to bleach
the wheelbarrow after burying it. big honker, took me
a lot to get it lifted into the wheelbarrow.

Mom went out the next day and picked up a wheelbarrow
of feathers.

whoever hit it was going pretty fast.


songbird

On 11/28/2019 7:40 PM, songbird wrote:
> Dave Smith wrote:
> ...
>> We had no turkeys here until the mid 1980s. The province of Ontario and
>> state of Michigan traded some moose for some turkeys. Apparently the
>> moose are doing fine in their new home and our turkey population
>> expanded so much that within a few years they opened up a turkey hunting
>> season.
>
> thank you for the mooses! i still have yet
> to see one in the wild myself (even after living in
> the UP of MI for 15 yrs and also driving around
> Lake Superior and trying to see them we still never
> quite managed it. i came close one evening but
> failed...)
>
>
>> It's odd that I often see them in fields or by the road when I am
>> driving, and I almost always see fresh tracks in the back fields and
>> bush, but I almost never see them when I am walking back there.
>
> we have them here in the wild around us, a lot of them,
> i'm glad to see them out in the fields. they rarely get
> close to the yard here, but once in a while they might
> wander through.
>
> do you have turkey vultures?
>
>
> songbird
>
We've got no wild turkeys (nor moose) way down south but we definitely
have turkey vultures.

Jill

On 11/29/2019 6:35 AM, Cindy Hamilton wrote:
> On Thursday, November 28, 2019 at 7:58:26 PM UTC-5, songbird wrote:
>
>> do you have turkey vultures?
>
> We do. One day I came home from work and found a couple in the back
> yard, eating a dead squirrel. Big damned birds, and not very attractive.
>
> Cindy Hamilton
>
They aren't pretty, that's for sure. I see them sometimes scavaging a
dead possum or raccoon by the side of the road. Mostly 2-lane roads
this far out and they don't like to move out of the way.

Jill