By Wade Hutcheson
University of Georgia

I danced with turkeys a while back.

I wasn’t dreaming, and I’m not a turkey hunter, though at some
point I’d like to give it a try. I was visiting with a property
owner, discussing his pastures, and we were pleased to watch two
young male turkeys on the back side of the pasture.

They must have been pleased to see us, too, as they and then a
third came out to greet us. They came right up to within about 30
yards of the truck. That’s unusual, as turkeys aren’t normally
social with people.

These young turkeys, though, walked up to the truck and stood
there gobbling at us. They even followed the truck as we tried to
ease off. I tried to turn the truck around so the landowner could
see them, and they followed us in circles.

‘Dances With Turkeys’

This went on for more than 5 minutes. We eventually got out of
the truck and danced with them. They inspected us and decided we
weren’t worth the trouble and left.

It was an amazing wildlife experience. I had a camera, but it was
such a shock and we were laughing so hard I never thought to get
photographic proof.

I’ve told this story to several people, most of whom didn’t
believe me. You know county agents have been known to stretch the
truth a tad.

Looking for handout?

The only thing I can figure out that makes sense is that someone
managed to imprint on these birds, and they got used to people
and were looking for a handout. Perhaps a sage turkey expert can
offer another explanation.

If the game warden is reading this, no harm came to the turkeys,
though we were tempted.

I visited with some science teachers last week. Their story was
about a hawk that had twice, on consecutive days, had its
breakfast within view of their classroom. The reaction from the
students ranged from utter amazement to being totally grossed
out. But what a teachable moment!

Wildlife surrounds us

Wildlife surrounds us, even in town. I consider that a good
thing. It offers us enjoyment and, to many, improves the quality
of life when you can witness wildlife up close.

Having wildlife nearby can provide quality family time and
opportunities to teach conservation and the realities of nature.

At other times, it’s a frustration, as deer, squirrels, skunks,
racoons and others cause problems in landscapes, roadways and
other places. Ask my wife about the ‘possum in the dog-food bag
— a handful of fur she’ll never forget.

Which do you want?

Which do you want, more or less wildlife? Your county office of
the University of Georgia Extension Service can offer help in
attracting more wildlife to the backyard or advise you on things
you can do to deter it.

We can help you be a better manager of your fish pond, suggest
wildlife plantings and tell you which landscape plants are
resistant to deer.

If we have time, I might even show you my turkey dance.