Brandon's wild turkeys prompt advice from police

Roaming wild turkeys in Brandon have ruffled some feathers in the western Manitoba city, prompting police to issue five pointers for dealing with the pesky birds.

The Brandon Police Service said it has received several complaints about the turkeys,which have made their home in the southeast part of the city, roosting and feeding on private properties.

In response, police and Manitoba Conservation talked turkey on Thursday, offering five tips for dealing with the issue:

• Don't feed wild turkeys.
• Scare away problem turkeys.
• Encourage roosting turkeys to move elsewhere.
• Protect your garden from turkeys.
• Watch out for turkeys on the road.

The tips aim to "alleviate any future concerns and to avoid negative interactions with the turkeys," police said in a news release.

"It is important to understand that wildlife residing in the urban-rural interface zones is not unusual and many species have adapted very well to living close to humans," the police service added.

Wild turkeys are designated as game birds under the Manitoba Wildlife Act, meaning Manitoba Conservation is responsible for managing the species, police said.