Feb. 5 (UPI) — Residents of a southern Wisconsin town have been dealing with an unusual group of local ruffians: a flock of aggressive wild turkeys.
Janesville neighbor Lawrence Meyer, who recorded video of the turkeys chasing a postal worker down a neighborhood road, said his 8-year-old son also had a run-in with the birds while crossing the street.
“As he was approaching, crossing the street, the turkeys started chasing after him,” Meyer told WMTV. “It’s scary. Like these are big birds. They’re as tall as my son. When they fluff their feathers, they’re scary. They’re huge to an 8-year-old.”
He said the birds weren’t always so aggressive.
“I love wildlife. At first, the turkeys were cool. They brought life to the neighborhood,” Meyer said. “As it’s developed, they’ve become a nuisance. They block traffic, they’ve caused accidents, they went after my mailman.”
Jason Cotter, a Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources wildlife biologist for Rock County, said turkeys tend to flock together during the winter, but its not common for them to become as aggressive as the Janesville birds.
“It’s more of a rarity than it is common,” Cotter said. “We have heard of flocks in urban areas, obviously around the state, but these particular birds in Janesville have been seemingly causing a stir with folks getting in and out of cars, mailmen, children going to school.”
Cotter recommended residents take steps to make themselves appear larger, such as carrying an umbrella.
The Wisconsin DNR said it is consulting with USDA Wildlife Services to come up with a plan to resolve the Janesville situation. Officials said the birds might end up being relocated.