These wild turkeys walked through a subdivision under construction in west Albany in November 2021.
In response to complaints about wild turkeys, the Albany City Council has voted to outlaw the feeding of wildlife except for songbirds and waterfowl.
The council adopted the “wildlife control” ordinance on Nov. 6.
Two months ago, the city got complaints about wild turkeys causing trouble at the Mennonite Village retirement center on the southeast side of town. One reason the turkeys were hanging around, it was said, was that someone was feeding them.
On Wednesday, code compliance officer Kristopher Schendell told the council it would take a while, but he hoped the birds would leave once the feeding stopped.
The ordinance takes effect 30 days after it was enacted. Here’s the central provision:
“Feeding of wildlife within the city limits of Albany is declared a public nuisance and shall be prohibited at all times. Feeding of wildlife includes any manner by which a person allows food or other attractants to be given with the intent of attracting and/or feeding wildlife. Nothing contained in this ordinance shall prohibit the feeding of songbirds or waterfowl provided that the feed shall be contained in receptacles which are reasonably designed to avoid access by wildlife.”
The text does not explain how you’re supposed to feed ducks or songbirds with feed that’s “contained in receptacles.”
The ordinance defines wildlife as “any animal that is not normally domesticated including but not limited to nutria, coyotes, deer, foxes, groundhogs, opossums, raccoons, skunks, and turkeys.”
Violations are subject to potential penalties, but the ordinance is vague. It refers to penalties set forth in another section of the code. But that section includes both “violations” subject to civil fines of up to $1,000 a day and “misdemanors” with fines up to $2,500 and a year in jail.
So if people still insist on feeding wild turkeys, they have to hope the birds won’t rat them out. (hh)
The new ordinance says it’s OK to feed waterfowl, but these ducks seemed to be doing fine on their own last week in the Periwinkle Canal.
What if squirrels are attracted to feast on the seed in your bird receptable, or the receptacle’s droppings?
What if a deer is attracted to drink from your bird bath?
What if a vole is attracted to eat your roses?
I doubt this ordinance will be enforced much, but imposing a $1,000/day punishment on residents must be tempting to a city that constantly complains about lack of funds.
Spot on Gordon!! Our roads are in disrepair, yet we’re worried about the turkeys. A shot gun shell or 3 will take care of the turkeys. Costs less and provides meals.
How utterly ridiculous. First of all, turkeys, unlike the rest of the list of wildlife, have been raised as a domestic animal for centuries. What is the majority of the country going to be eating at Thanksgiving? Secondly, I thoroughly enjoy having said turkeys wander through my yard as do many of my neighbors. What about the deer that wander North Albany? We can’t expect to live in an environment that excludes wildlife. The wildlife enriches our lives and were here before we were. If you don’t want them in your space put up some type of deterrent like the farmers do for foraging geese. And let the rest of us enjoy the displays that nature provides for us.
When we first moved to North Albany, the deer were in our area seasonally. Then we had a small herd. They were healthy and generally only caused minor damage to property.
Many years later, people started feeding them, as if they were pets. Now we have an abnormally large herd (we’ve had 16+ sleeping in our yard on a frequent basis). This not only leads to visibly unhealthy deer and more significant damage, but it has attracted at least one cougar to an area that cougars would ordinarily avoid.
In addition, we have noticed a decrease in wildlife diversity as the deer population increased.
Deer are not pets! They love suburban areas and will do very well when not fed.
On the other hand, if the city had continued to allow people to feed the deer, the artificially increased population would continue to harm other species, cause property damage, and could even have resulted in the loss of a pet, or a child.
It is quite possible to enjoy the deer without feeding them. (We did for many years.)The city has not outlawed the enjoyment of wildlife and you might find that you enjoy the greater variety.
Finally, if you come up with a deterrent that actually works, let us know. They can jump 8ft fences and when the population get this high, they even damage plants that are toxic to them.
The rich and elite at Mennonite Village (those feeding the turkeys are the exception) don’t seem to give a “darn” if God’s creatures go hungry in this increasingly cruel world.
Another generalization that is generally wrong.
I’ll rephrase, Hasso: The residents at Mennonite Village (the exceptions are the people who feed the turkeys) are not respecting God’s creatures. And, regarding the City Council, the same is true. So, now Albany is the city who has no compassion for hungry wildlife.
Just feed your cats and mind your own business
I can’t wait for the jail to be full of people with humming bird feeders.
Beginning to believe that Idiocracy was prophecy, not satire …..
Ban the feeding of feral cats, that breed like rabbits and sh!t on the lawn and in bark dust.
Better yet, ban outdoor cats. Loss of cat and a fine for the owner that lets their cat wander outdoors.
So, your bark dust or yard in the actual outdoors is not pristine!! So sorry.
Cats, unless they have human owners, cannot get themselves spayed and neutered.
People can control whether they, humans, that is, have offspring galore or not, but they don’t. This world has way too many people in it. The feral cats are just trying to survive. Why don’t you catch, spay or neuter them, and return them to their habitat and pledge to feed them daily? SafeHaven Animal Shelter can fill you in on that program. Oh, forgot….your concern is your manicured lawn.
About any feral cat problem in Albany, starts with irresponsible pet owners. Should be the ones to take their animals and have them spayed and neutered and keep them home. Don’t turn them out to roam the neighborhoods.
Hopefully, the residents of Albany will see the obvious lack of priorities the city expresses and have zero concern for the general public. The city council has continuously chosen to vote on unnecessary and stupid complaints while ignoring all the abusive activities that Albany has allowed. They drag out any important causes that greatly effect our everyday life, with no results. If the city could get government funding for taking care of the wild turkeys, they would force us human turkeys to move, give up our businesses and expect us tolerate hundreds of them taking over the city. Lol, It would be preferable to what we deal with now.
When the turkeys go through my property
All of a sudden all of my slugs and snails are gone!
They only stay long enough to clean up and help out my garden
Then they wander off to help one of my neighbors
They eventually go back to the woods and roost in the old growth trees
Where do I begin? First of all, the variation in fine amounts is in place to make way for increased fines for repeat offenders. FYI, the city of Detroit ordinances allow for a fine up to $750 A DAY for feeding wild turkeys.
Turkeys are the number one carrier of Avion flu and chlamydia psittaci or parrot fever which is potentially lethal to dogs. A fungal infection, histoplasmosis, is also a huge health risk for dogs. These diseases are transmitted through contact with Turkey scat.
You may be surprised to know that wild turkeys seem to reproduce prolifically even when humans do not feed them. They do not need supplemental feed! When humans feed wild animals, including turkeys, it disrupts the natural process causing increased risk of disease, supplemental foods may harbor bacteria and fungi, and nutrient deficiencies. It can also make animals congregate close to roads resulting in more vehicle collisions as well as aggression towards humans and other pets. Supplemental feeding of wild animals causes unnatural concentrations which draws predatory species such as coyotes, cougars, bobcats, etc.
These are just some ofthe negative effects that take place involving the wild turkeys. There are also safety issues involving humans as well. Elderly city residence using wheelchairs and walkers put themselves in dangerous situations trying to avoid the large amounts of scat on walkways which can eventually be tracked into buildings and create more health risks.
Last year approximately 20 wild turkeys took up residence in the Mennonite Villiage. This year they had approximately 70.
Unlike the before mentioned commenters, those of us that like the wild turkeys and have taken the time to educate ourselves, want them to be able to live a disease free, natural life. We also want good health for everyone who lives in the Albany area. I would encourage my fellow Albany residents, who commented earlier, to educate themselves as to the scientific and biological facts involving the wildlife present in our city limits so that they can become true advocates for the animals they claim to love and want to protect. This can be easily accomplished by visiting the Oregon department and fish and wildlife website.
After doing so I think you will realize that the city ordinance recently passed will not only benefit residence throughout Albany but also the wild turkeys.
Ah, The Trouble with Tribbles….
The city would be better off hiring an animal control officer to remove turkeys in the city. If no effort is taken to control the population, it will continue to increase. I went to the Oregon Department of Wildlife 10 years ago and they admitted it was a mistake to introduce wild turkeys into the valley and they had no way of controlling their population other than through hunting seasons. But it is illegal to fire a gun within the city limits. So we are back to hiring an an animal control officer to solve the problem.
PS I no longer can have a garden because the turkeys have come through and destroyed it year after year.
Well, dang, no more pet nutria. My grandkids are likely to be pretty upset.
Wow! What a lively debate! It is good, at least, to see that our 1st Amendment rights are still being so vigorously practiced. I learned a lot I wouldn’t have known. Thanks to all!