Fixit: Neighbors aren't wild about their growing flock of turkeys

Q Our problem is with wild turkeys. About 10 years ago, the state Department of Natural Resources located several wild turkeys in nearby woods to expand the birds' range. For the first few years, they posed no significant disruption. Now, however, after several years of "flock growth," they're an everyday nuisance, tearing up our yard and defiling it with their droppings, which our dogs snack on and roll in. They've become so comfortable and aggressive that they come up to our back door, even ignoring the family dogs. Do you know of any way to effectively rid ourselves of this "gobbler" curse? Please don't suggest to remove the bird feeders -- they were there years before the DNR's intrusion.

A Wild turkeys have a "pecking order," and habituated birds may respond to you as they do to another turkey. The best defense against aggressive or persistent turkeys is to be bold with them.

Adult humans may drive off or deter these aggressive birds by forcefully fending them off with brooms or other non-injurious implements. Everyone in the neighborhood must relate to them in the same way so that each and every turkey learns to view all humans as dominant in the pecking order. Otherwise the turkeys may recognize one individual as dominant but continue to attack or try to dominate other people.

Turkeys that repeatedly challenge or attack children or elderly persons or otherwise threaten public safety may ultimately have to be destroyed.

It is rarely an option to trap and relocate "nuisance" turkeys. The methods used to trap turkeys in remote areas are often impractical or ineffective in urban or suburban areas due to disturbance or safety concerns. Released turkeys may also continue their inappropriate actions where they are released or may move substantial distances to other suburban sites.

Some wild turkeys, especially in spring and early summer, choose to stand, walk or pace in the center of busy highways, dodging vehicles and blocking traffic. Some (but not all) of these birds are juvenile males, so they do not strut or display. The reasons for this peculiar behavior are unknown.

"Highway" turkeys are not easily dispersed. If a hazardous situation exists, and the birds do not disperse on their own, they may have to be forcibly removed.

Bryan Lueth, area wildlife manager, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Forest Lake

Pothole generator Q What causes potholes? They seem to appear on roadways every year about this time.

A Potholes typically form when water enters pavement through a crack, break or hole. The water freezes and expands. That enlarges the surface blemish, which starts to break up the pavement. As cars pass over or around the area, tires further break up, pulverize and toss aside the material. Sometimes deicing chemicals make the problem worse by exposing the pavement to more freeze-thaw cycles.

Send your questions to Fixit in care of the Star Tribune, 425 Portland Av. S., Minneapolis, MN 55488, or call 612-673-9033, or e-mail fixit@startribune.com. Past columns are available at www.startribune.com/fixit. Sorry, Fixit cannot supply individual replies.