The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: blackwolfe on April 14, 2009, 12:34:22 PM
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Sounds like it's time to issue a 12 guage instead of pepper spray.
FOWL PLAY?: GH mail carriers dealing with agressive turkeys
Fri, Apr 10, 2009 to del.icio.us
BY BRIAN KEILEN
bkeilen@grandhaventribune.com
Mail carriers are trained to deal with attacks from dogs, bees and a variety of other animals, but nothing has prepared them for the latest animal threat — turkeys.
Click to enlarge
"I don't remember seeing anything about turkeys," said Grand Haven Postmaster Barb Kiehborth.
But that's just what several Grand Haven carriers have been dealing with for the past month. A group of eight or nine turkeys — three toms in particular — has been disrupting the delivery of mail in the area of Montague Street and the 400 block of Slayton Avenue.
Carrier Jeremy Bogerd called the toms "super aggressive" and has even been pecked in the leg. They chase the mail carriers around the neighborhood and now gather at the door of the mail truck as soon as it enters the area, he said.
"As soon as they see us, they're after us," he said. "They're not afraid of humans."
Four mail carriers have been chased by the turkeys, according to Kiehborth. The birds — which Bogerd estimates weigh between 15 and 18 pounds each — normally migrate up and down the hill as the mail carriers visit each location, Bogerd said. They are spotted by a mail carrier nearly every day.
Bogerd has been on the route for 10 years, and has watched the group of turkeys grow over the years, but this is the first time he has been chased by them. The first time, they trapped him on a porch. Now they're becoming even bolder, he said.
"They'll chase you as soon as they see the truck," he said.
And attempting to avoid them or to get rid of them has been a challenge. Some carriers now drive their trucks all the way down the block, Bogerd said, and he has even thrown a snowball at them.
"There's not much you can do," he said.
Doug Cody, another carrier who has had troubles with the turkeys, found a small piece of lumber on a porch that he now uses to fend off the birds. If he doesn't immediately see the turkeys when he enters the neighborhood, he is constantly on the lookout for them.
"I feel like my head's on a swivel," he said.
Even more perplexing is the fact that mail carriers are the only humans who seem to agitate the turkeys. Initially, the postal workers were concerned with neighborhood children being attacked, but Bogerd has seen neighbors feeding the turkeys and they act docile around other humans, he said. But when the mail carriers appear, they puff up and begin making noise.
Mail carriers are required to carry mace, but the turkeys' heads are too small to hit, Bogerd said, and he's afraid of what might happen if he does use it on them.
"I don't even know what to tell them to do," Kiehborth said, adding that she laughed when she first heard about the turkeys.
No one's sure why the turkeys are attacking the carriers, but the leading theory is the male birds are defending their territory or trying to impress females during mating season, Bogerd said.
Whatever the reason, he hopes they calm down soon. They are trained to use their mail bags as shields from aggressive dogs, he said — a tactic that has been marginally successful against the turkeys.
"I would rather get attacked by a dog sometimes than these turkeys," Bogerd said.
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This needs a tactical response! ;D
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I honestly don't know how to respond to this, so I will settle for, ROFL, ROFL and yet more ROFL. Though maybe the postal service ought to consider M'lettes full auto shotgun. ROFL some more. ;D
FQ13
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Mail carriers in training. "Project: Bring home the bacon" ;)
www.tromix.com/saiga12_fullauto.wmv
Saiga 12 full auto, and a marinade injector in every truck!
(http://www.zy-sauce.com/Deep%20Fried%20Turkey.jpg)
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I've heard of attack geese... Wild turkeys I assume... Tom's in the"rut" tring to get a lil tail ;D
Mail carrriers beware....
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Mail carrriers beware....
Or just bring some stovetop stuffing, unless of course these are "tactical turkeys" and then its every man for himself.
FQ13
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Was it something like this?...
http://www.dumpert.nl/mediabase/462601/bf1f0d54/fok_niet_met_vogels.html
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Beware they will get you all.........
What we've got here is a complete lack of respect for da law.....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qx8s5ef-ejg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wCmoIrFuzD8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tFBd2uO3Wuw
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My recommendation is get a flash-bang from the local police. Teach the little peckers some respect for awthoRATay!
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My recommendation is get a flash-bang from the local police. Teach the little peckers some respect for awthoRATay!
My suggestion is get a cleaver from the kitchen. Being intimidated by supper is asinine.
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My suggestion is get a cleaver from the kitchen. Being intimidated by supper is asinine.
Me likey your attitude! ;)
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Me likey your attitude! ;)
Wait till you see my suggestion for aggressive breadcrumbs ;D
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Anyone ever heard of the "Animal Conspiracy" by NPR Comedian Tim Bedore?
add Attack Turkeys to the list.
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(http://www.mazeguy.net/edible/turkey.gif) (http://www.mazeguy.net/edible/drumstick.gif) YUM!
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Wait till you see my suggestion for aggressive breadcrumbs ;D
What about Yankee Pot Roast?
I hear it can be murder.
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Tasty murder ;D and a particular favorite of mine ;D
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Anyone ever heard of the "Animal Conspiracy" by NPR Comedian Tim Bedore?
add Attack Turkeys to the list.
http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=Comedian+Tim+Bedore+animal+consipacy&hl=en&emb=0&aq=-1&oq=#q=Comedian+Tim+Bedore+animal+conspiracy&hl=en&emb=0
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Haz I didnt know you were a fan of the Bob & Tom show. Good Old Q95 94.7 FM out of Indianapolis.
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Just did a 'google' for it Con. Is this the same Bob and Tom that use to do things like the tooth fairy and super chicken skits?
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Get rid of the video camera , and a Browning Buckmark would make short work of those mean turkeys. Just would have to invite some of you to my place to help
distroy I mean eat the evidense.
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Just did a 'google' for it Con. Is this the same Bob and Tom that use to do things like the tooth fairy and super chicken skits?
Yup and Mr. Obviuous too.
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Thanks Haz for the link. Can't do anything video at work :(
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15 to 18 pounds?
Dem Gobbler's sho wood be guud and licshus!!!!!
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My suggestion is get a cleaver from the kitchen. Being intimidated by supper is asinine.
You never saw my Mom's cooking. Made a meatloaf once that looked like a belly-up face-sucker from the Alien movie.
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Get rid of the video camera , and a Browning Buckmark would make short work of those mean turkeys. Just would have to invite some of you to my place to help distroy I mean eat the evidense.
The Browning Buck Mark is the cheap plasic imitation of the REAL pistol, the Challenger II, available now with free oriental bamboo steamer (yes I'm serious, foodie, you'll recall ;D) on this very board. Vastly better against turkeys, particulary the tactical kind.
FQ13
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How come we never run into these turkeys when your all camoed up with camo shotgun and hunt same bird? ah shoot gota go new season of deadliest catch starts in 10 minutes . ???
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My recommendation is get a flash-bang from the local police. Teach the little peckers some respect for awthoRATay!
My suggestion is get a cleaver from the kitchen. Being intimidated by supper is asinine.
Taurus Judge!
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Taurus Judge!
Sounds like you'd be better off with a burlap bag and a 2x4. Oops, channeling my inner redneck!
FQ13
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You never saw my Mom's cooking. Made a meatloaf once that looked like a belly-up face-sucker from the Alien movie.
Did the flies chip in and buy y'all a screen door?
Sounds like killer meatloaf.
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The Browning Buck Mark is the cheap plasic imitation of the REAL pistol, the Challenger II, available now with free oriental bamboo steamer (yes I'm serious, foodie, you'll recall ;D) on this very board. Vastly better against turkeys, particulary the tactical kind.
FQ13
The only plastic on the Buckmark I had was the grip panels
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The only plastic on the Buckmark I had was the grip panels
Exactly. And who wouldn't prefer genuine burled American Walnut? A commie pincko, thats who. ;D
FQ13 Who has finished doing his fifty push-ups, eaten his high fiber cereal, read his Bible, kissed his picture of J. Edgar Hoover, and is ready to start the day, wondering only when when some patriot will emerge to buy this fine pistol.
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Double up on the Fiber.