Wild turkey mating season in Brookline leads to warnings about aggressive birds
The police department in Brookline, Massachusetts is putting out a warning for residents that the wild turkeys often seen in town may be aggressive as it's their mating season.
According to the state, wild turkey mating season takes place between March and May.
What to do when approached by turkey
Police are asking residents to maintain a distance from the turkeys and to never feed them, as they can become more aggressive to humans. The state also recommends removing bird feeders from your yard if they're attracting turkeys.
If you are approached by a wild turkey, the state recommends moving aggressively toward them by making loud noises and opening and closing an umbrella at them to make them go away. The state said you can also swat a broom or spray water from a hose at them and make sure to stand your ground.
Brookline known for wild turkeys
Brookline is known for its population of wild turkeys seen on the sidewalk, streets and in the trees. The turkeys are so well-known in Brookline, the town used COVID relief money to install 10 turkey statues throughout town. The statues can be seen in places like Coolidge Corner and Washington Square.
Turkey attacks are not rare in Massachusetts. Turkeys attacked and bit a woman in Cambridge, intimated residents in Dedham and a turkey even attacked a parked car in Boston. Wednesday morning, a parking enforcement officer was chased by a turkey in Brookline.
"She had been chased by a wild turkey and she had gone into a building and was in the building to avoid the turkey and the turkey had come up to the door where she was and was pecking at the door," said Brookline Police Deputy Superintendent Paul Campbell.
