Curious about what some turkeys are doing after Thanksgiving?
Drivers in the Niagara Region have reported seeing them on the roads near St. Catharines, Ont., and Highway 406.
Since late October, the Humane Society of Greater Niagara (HSGN) has been receiving numerous calls from drivers about wild turkey sightings.
While some people enjoy watching them from their cars, others have expressed concern over their presence, according to Cindy Dunne, executive director at HSGN.
The nimble birds can create a “public safety threat” as they wander around busy areas and highways, Dunne told . Concerns escalated recently after one incident in the last two weeks was linked to turkeys on the road, which resulted in one person getting injured, she mentioned.
The wild turkeys “are fast, agile, and yes, they can fly,” Dunne stated in a joint news release with the City of St. Catharines, urging drivers to remain cautious and patient while traveling through St. Catharines’ Martindale area and Highway 406.
Last week, officers from HSGN were seen in a video attempting to chase after some turkeys using nets. The purpose of the nets is to guide and redirect the turkeys off the road rather than trap them, Dunne explained.
“For us, it’s ‘let’s get them out of harm’s way, get them out of putting others in harm’s way and drive them back into the more forested area’,” she said.
WATCH | Passengers taking the QEW exit witness wild turkeys making a run for it:
Wild turkeys are seen running from Niagara animal control officers on the QEW
Members of a local Facebook group are sharing their wild turkey sightings around St. Catharines’ Martindale area and Ontario Highway 406. This clip was filmed on Tuesday, Nov. 4, around when reports of wild turkeys on the road surged in that area according to Humane Society of Greater Niagara and City of St. Catharines. (Submitted by Devin Garrah)
This particular group of turkeys might have started as four but now seems to be just two; they’ve been spotted for about a year now in that location, Dunne noted.
Drivers and locals are encouraged to “coexist respectfully with wildlife” and should not “attempt to feed, chase or approach wild turkeys,” as Ontario has strict regulations regarding relocating or harming these birds.
<p“Public safety is always a priority but it’s important that we handle these situations with respect for nature,” stated Marty Mako, city councillor for Martindale Road.
Travis Chorney, senior animal services officer mentioned in a news release that “turkeys are highly mobile and very difficult to capture safely” adding that they “often return to their original territory.”
The HSGN says they conduct “periodic patrols” in that area and reported no sightings over last weekend...
Cold weather often leads to fewer sightings.
With St. Catharines experiencing its first snowfall over last weekend , “the turkeys will likely head back into forested areas for roosting , so sightings should become less frequent , though not impossible ,” Dunne explained.
If you see any in your area , both HSGN and city officials encourage calling their Animal Services Dispatch line at 905 – 682 – 0767.
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Wild turkeys are seen running from Niagara animal control officers on the QEW
Members of a local Facebook group are sharing their wild turkey sightings around St. Catharines’ Martindale area and Ontario Highway 406. This clip was filmed on Tuesday, Nov. 4, around when reports of wild turkeys on the road surged in that area according to Humane Society of Greater Niagara and City of St. Catharines. (Submitted by Devin Garrah)
This particular group of turkeys might have started as four but now seems to be just two; they’ve been spotted for about a year now in that location, Dunne noted.
Drivers and locals are encouraged to “coexist respectfully with wildlife” and should not “attempt to feed, chase or approach wild turkeys,” as Ontario has strict regulations regarding relocating or harming these birds.
<p“Public safety is always a priority but it’s important that we handle these situations with respect for nature,” stated Marty Mako, city councillor for Martindale Road.
Travis Chorney, senior animal services officer mentioned in a news release that “turkeys are highly mobile and very difficult to capture safely” adding that they “often return to their original territory.”
The HSGN says they conduct “periodic patrols” in that area and reported no sightings over last weekend...
Cold weather often leads to fewer sightings.
With St. Catharines experiencing its first snowfall over last weekend , “the turkeys will likely head back into forested areas for roosting , so sightings should become less frequent , though not impossible ,” Dunne explained.
If you see any in your area , both HSGN and city officials encourage calling their Animal Services Dispatch line at 905 – 682 – 0767.Source link
