Pepper Spray Keeps Wild Turkey at Bay in Massachusetts Neighborhood

Wild turkeys are a major problem in the residential of South Street in Rockport, Massachusetts. From September 2008 to January 2009 there were nearly daily attacks on postal workers, culminating with a postal worker being chased down a street with a group of turkeys hot on his heels. (Passers-by stopped to help the haggard postal worker) Postal service was actually suspended for five homes for several days in January due to concerns over turkey attacks.

Wild turkeys have been encouraged to stay because people have become feeding them over the past few years. They have also become accustomed to having people in their vicinity and react to them as if they were also wild turkeys (and part of the same group).

Residents and visitors to the area are encouraged to stand up to turkeys and "show them who is boss." Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife advises people to not let turkeys intimidate them.

In August 2009 a postal worker used pepper spray to stand up to a wild turkey that was being aggressive. The postal worker in question was shadowed by the turkey as soon as he exited his vehicle. After several attempts to scare the bird off, the postal worker responded to the turkey’s charge with pepper spray and successfully avoided injury.

A turkey expert, Jim Cardoza, recommends pepper spray only as a last resort. He recommends "bully[ing] it back" with common household items such as a broom or a hose. An umbrella can mimic the open spread of another male’s tail feathers and intimidate the bird.

Considering the history of wild turkeys in the area, though, you cannot fault the postal worker for using the pepper spray (issued to workers for use on unruly dogs).