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1. City of Saint Anthony Wild Turkey Management Concerns 1.1 Wild Turkey Habitat Use and Population Estimate The City is fully developed with areas of public recreation and pockets of open space that are conducive to turkey populations, so wild turkeys are found in areas of the city. Nesting occurs in a variety of habitats including wooded and marsh areas and thick shrubbery public and private property. Newly hatched broods tend to feed within the city boundary areas and in communities that border Saint Anthony. After their flightless period of a few days, wild turkeys are more mobile and frequently use private and public property for dusting, roosting and feeding. The City of Saint Anthony does not monitor wild turkey populations annually. City protocol is to respond and assist residents when an issue arises due to a large flock of wild turkeys or unique situations that create a public safety and/or public health issue. 1.2 Visitation and Recreation Areas Flocks of wild turkeys can be found in our parks, playgrounds, roads, parking lots, wooded areas, and other public and private property. 1.3 Concentrated Habitat Use and Human Safety Issues Areas in which wild turkeys can cause damage or health and human safety issues include public property, private residential property and business property throughout the city. Turkeys can be difficult to deter and can become aggressive with people. 1.3.1 Proximity Sensitive areas Because our wild turkey removal plan is based on managing specific problem areas only and not an annual removal program, all property at any potential location will have sensitivity issues. Therefore, staff will not support the use of firearms for the removal of problem turkeys unless directed by Public Safety staff in very specific situations that have no other options. Generally a drop net process or baited traps will be utilized. Depending on the types of baited traps used, this process may attract non-target wildlife and domestic pets. Contracted services for wild turkey removal will employ strategies and systems that minimize the impact to all other domestic and wild animals. 2. Wild Turkey Management Recommendations 2.1 Goals and Measures The City of Saint Anthony’s Wild Turkey Management Plan is designed for problem area response due to wild turkey issues when identified by residents and city staff. This is not a citywide annual removal process plan. The two primary areas of concern are public safety and property damage. Staff have identified two goals for implementing a Wild Turkey Management Plan: 1. Develop and implement a communication process that informs both residential and business property owners about strategies to deter feeding and loafing wild turkeys. Information will 32