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<br />1. City of Saint Anthony Wild Turkey Management Concerns <br /> <br />1.1 Wild Turkey Habitat Use and Population Estimate <br />The City is fully developed with areas of public recreation and pockets of open space that are conducive <br />to turkey populations, so wild turkeys are found in areas of the city. Nesting occurs in a variety of <br />habitats including wooded and marsh areas and thick shrubbery public and private property. Newly <br />hatched broods tend to feed within the city boundary areas and in communities that border Saint <br />Anthony. After their flightless period of a few days, wild turkeys are more mobile and frequently use <br />private and public property for dusting, roosting and feeding. <br />The City of Saint Anthony does not monitor wild turkey populations annually. City protocol is to respond <br />and assist residents when an issue arises due to a large flock of wild turkeys or unique situations that <br />create a public safety and/or public health issue. <br /> <br />1.2 Visitation and Recreation Areas <br />Flocks of wild turkeys can be found in our parks, playgrounds, roads, parking lots, wooded areas, and <br />other public and private property. <br /> <br />1.3 Concentrated Habitat Use and Human Safety Issues <br />Areas in which wild turkeys can cause damage or health and human safety issues include public <br />property, private residential property and business property throughout the city. Turkeys can be difficult <br />to deter and can become aggressive with people. <br /> <br />1.3.1 Proximity Sensitive areas <br />Because our wild turkey removal plan is based on managing specific problem areas only and not an <br />annual removal program, all property at any potential location will have sensitivity issues. Therefore, <br />staff will not support the use of firearms for the removal of problem turkeys unless directed by Public <br />Safety staff in very specific situations that have no other options. Generally a drop net process or baited <br />traps will be utilized. Depending on the types of baited traps used, this process may attract non-target <br />wildlife and domestic pets. Contracted services for wild turkey removal will employ strategies and <br />systems that minimize the impact to all other domestic and wild animals. <br /> <br />2. Wild Turkey Management Recommendations <br />2.1 Goals and Measures <br />The City of Saint Anthony’s Wil Turkey Management Plan is designed for problem area response due to <br />wild turkey issues when identified by residents and city staff. This is not a citywide annual removal <br />process plan. The two primary areas of concern are public safety and property damage. <br />Staff has identified two goals for implementing a Wild Turkey Management Plan: <br /> <br />1. Develop and implement a communication process that informs both residential and business <br />property owners about strategies to deter feeding and loafing wild turkeys. Information will