Aggressive turkeys 'intimidating' Dedham residents, police warn

DEDHAM - Proud turkeys are strutting their stuff in Dedham, and giving residents there a scare in the process.

Dedham police said Tuesday that animal control has received reports of turkeys "following" and "intimidating" people, including a USPS mail carrier. 

"Most of the issues we have to deal with are with turkeys and cars," said Dedham Animal Control Officer Deni Goldman. "Turkeys, I don't know if they aren't the brightest of the birds or what it is, but when the turkeys see their reflection, they automatically assume it's competition."

This is peak breeding season for turkeys, police note, and that has the males acting out. 

"The increase in activity is due to male turkeys establishing dominance amongst their [male] peers," police said in a Facebook post. "The increase in intimidation and aggression towards humans is due to turkeys having become habituated around humans - because humans are feeding them - whether intentionally or unintentionally."

Police urge against feeding turkeys or any wild animals. They say loud noises, bright lights and scarecrows can help keep turkeys away from your house.

"Lately we had a letter carrier that jumped out of his truck and got surrounded by the turkeys," said Officer Goldman. "This weekend we had an issue with a woman who couldn't get out of the car, they were pecking the car."

Wild turkeys disappeared from Massachusetts in the 1800s before a successful restoration efforts in the 1970s that led to the current population of between 30,000 and 40,000 all over the state. Experts tell WBZ-TV that hiding from turkeys in your car or running away will only embolden the birds - it's best to not act afraid of them. 

"They chased my kid up the stairs one time, pecking him on the legs, which wasn't too great," said Dedham neighbor Lu Annatone. "In the car, we beep the horn until they go. We scream go away! Sometimes they listen, sometimes they don't."

In:
• Dedham News