Residents in a Connecticut town are becoming fearful to step out of their homes after a flock of Wild Turkeys went on the attack. The reason for the problem is simple – some of those residents had decided to feed the wild turkeys.

Connecticut locals feed wild turkeys, leading to aggression

Since locals started feeding them, the aggressive turkeys have been attacking mail carriers and joggers in both Newfield and Turn of River in the Stamford area for some time now. Relating to the mail carriers, who have been regularly targeted by the birds this summer, the post office sent out letters to residents of Turn of River, requesting them to stop feeding the wild turkeys.

The Stamford Advocate quotes City Rep. Steven Kolenberg as saying he has received several complaints, mainly from older residents who are scared to leave their homes, as well as some local joggers who have been chased and attacked by the wild birds. However, Kolenberg went on to add that his main concern is for the Newfield Elementary School, which lies right in the center of the wild turkeys’ acquired territory.

Kolenberg said the main problem is with two male adult, or “tom” turkeys, hanging around in the Pepper Ridge Road area of town, who are occasionally accompanied by one or two female birds.

Readers should bear in mind these birds are not small – they can weigh up to 24 pounds and have a wingspan of approximately five feet.

Residents requested to stop feeding the wild turkeys

While saying this is one of the most unusual and strange complaints he has received from residents, he stressed that this doesn’t make the situation any less serious.

He added that while the birds might look comical, wild turkeys are territorial, and if they are fed by the locals, they can become very aggressive.

Calling the situation a “public safety issue, Kolenberg added if the turkeys still come around despite not being fed, people need to make a stand and harass the birds, making it uncomfortable for the flock to hang around in the neighborhood.

Kolenberg on Thursday also called on Stamford Animal Control in an effort for them to try to capture the birds and remove them from the area.

Turkeys see humans as equals, leading to aggression

The New York Post quotes a Department of Energy and Environment Protection biologist as saying when the locals feed the wild turkeys, the birds then become “habituated” to them, seeing the humans as their equals. Michael Gregonis added that this is when the birds become dangerous and will tend to target children, the elderly and mail carriers.

Gregonis went on to explain the hierarchy of wild turkey flocks, where each bird has its own place, but they tend to fight among themselves. He added the reason they target mail carriers particularly is that they come each day in a regular routine.

As a necessary step to discourage them, Gregonis recommended locals to slowly walk away from the turkeys to avoid being attacked, rather than backing up or running away. Alternatively, they should try to make themselves appear aggressive and larger to deter the turkeys, who will then back down.

Connecticut is not alone in suffering problems with wildlife. As recently reported, rhesus macaques caused the Silver Springs State Park to be closed with up to 50 of the animals invading people's yards.