Turkeys digging up grass is not a bad sign because they are just looking for food. However, their digging activities can destroy new grass on the lawn. Notably, turkeys’ feed ranges from small insects like grasshoppers and ground beetles to seeds and grasses. Therefore, turkeys are likely to dig up grass in search of such foods.
Most of the time, ground insects live under the soil, which is what turkeys always look for. They prefer living between roots, which provide them with food. Earthworms and slugs are also part of a turkey’s menu. Such animals are most prevalent in the roots of small plants, where they get shelter from extreme weather conditions.
For instance, slugs can easily dehydrate to death when exposed to sunshine. Therefore, they prefer to hide in such areas. Turkeys, just like all other animals, are good at spotting their best food sources. Therefore, they often dig up grass to reach the insects and animals that hide underneath them for nourishment.
Another possible reason for the bird’s behavior could be the scarcity of food or food sources. If insufficient food is on the ground surface, turkeys are likely to dig for it.
One of the reasons for the scarcity could be the elimination of food sources through human activity. Soil pollution could also explain the dwindling food sources for turkeys, leading to the behavior.
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How to stop turkeys from digging up lawns
Turkeys will only dig up your lawn once they are sure they will find their food there. Therefore, the first and best option to prevent turkeys from digging up your lawn will involve eliminating the food sources.
Spreading food-grade DE diatomaceous earth on the lawn can help kill unwanted insects. This will reduce the number of worms and insects that turkeys can find on your lawn. If there is no food, they will stay away.
Most animals frequent the places they visit to find food. If they do not find it, they have no business visiting. It is important to note that pest control requires less aggressive means to ensure that you do not kill the turkeys. No one would want to find dead turkeys in their compound. Additionally, turkeys are food and may supplement your diet if you are not a strict vegetarian.
Turkeys are famous for their contributions to Thanksgiving each year. Killing the birds may translate to killing Thanksgiving. Keeping them at bay may be the best option. One of the reasons one may not want turkeys in their yard is dealing with the birds’ droppings. However, you need to know that the droppings are manure that may help make the soil in your lawn healthier and richer.
Control measures
The best option to eliminate the food source may include keeping the lawn clean all the time by mowing down the vegetation. Harsh conditions like exposure to direct sunlight will not allow crawling insects to inhabit most parts of your lawn.
Also, consistent mowing will deter sprouting vegetation from reaching maturity. Hence, turkeys may have no interest in visiting your lawn due to the absence of food. If you love eating turkeys, you may trap them using different means.
There are times when one might decide to eliminate the birds. It is advisable to rear dogs to do the job for you. Dogs are one of the best ways to keep wild turkeys out of your yard because the birds will look at them as predators.
The birds may often appear intimidating due to their pompous reactions. However, they are usually very timid. They can easily run away from leased dogs. You do not have to free your dog to chase them away. This option must only be used to scare away the birds unless you can hunt wild turkeys within your jurisdiction.
Please also note that killing the birds may be offensive in most regions and inhumane. One might contemplate poisoning the birds, but it is essential to note that doing so may pose a danger to other individuals who may wish to consume the birds.
Other domestic pets like dogs and cats may also come across poisoned birds’ carcasses and eat them, putting themselves in danger. Please be careful and responsible when removing the birds from your lawns or yards.
What are wild turkeys eating on my lawn?
Wild turkeys are likely to feed on the most unlikely foods one can imagine. They are free-range birds with no specific food sources or supplies. Therefore, they will most likely land in the most favorable areas to get the foods they may wish to have. The most common diets for wild turkeys include insects and small animals and plant shoots and buds.
The two are common in the lawns, especially if the lawns are regularly mowed and watered. The treatment is likely to encourage consistent budding, encouraging turkeys to become regular visitors. Budding plants are generally soft and juicy, making them a good choice for turkey food.
Turkeys also love to eat grubs that are easy to spot on the lawns. Seeing turkeys in your yard should not worry you. They make pest control work easier. You do not have to struggle to rid your yard of pesky insects and small animals like snails and slugs. The turkeys will do the work for you. Let them be! They are eco-friendly.
What are turkeys pecking at on the ground?
This is a question that most people who do not understand turkeys quite well struggle to answer. However, it is quite normal for turkeys to peck on the ground. They are likely to pick up different things ranging from food to grit. Remember, turkeys do not have teeth to chew their food. Instead, they swallow their food whole.
Have you ever wondered about the processes the food they eat goes through in their digestive system? Food must be broken down to make it easy for digestion to take place. Like all other birds, turkeys pick up sand and small gravel particles that are essential in grinding food within the crop. Turkeys need gravel or sand particles for the same purpose.
Also, the birds must peck on the ground to pick their food. Remember, they feed on insects and specific plants. Therefore, each time you see a turkey pecking on the ground, know it is most likely feeding.
Turkeys also fetch food for their young. Therefore, they might peck on the ground to pull food out for their young, who may not have the same skills. They will scratch and peck on the ground for their young ones to get easy access to food.
