Coeur d'Alene to talk turkey

Christie Wood admits she doesn’t know a lot about the turkeys that are roaming freely around Coeur d’Alene. 

But she knows one thing. 

“They make a big mess,” she said. 

The Coeur d’Alene city councilor believes it’s time for the city to target turkeys for transport out of town before they multiply into even bigger numbers and make even bigger messes. 

From her home near Coeur d’Alene Public Golf Course, Wood said “big, fat turkeys” are camping out in yards, strolling in streets and pooping on driveways. 

“I continually get comments and see them with my own eyes,” Wood said. “They’re cute but messy. People are really sick of it.” 

George Saylor, a member of the Coeur d’Alene Audubon Society, said people tend to have a love/hate relationship with gobblers.

“Some like them, some would like to see them gone. I don't care for them in my yard," said Saylor, who lives in Sanders Beach, where turkeys are common. "I try to keep them out."

Saylor said a few turkeys aren't a problem. But when they become 30 or 40, they are.

“I'm in favor of keeping them under control, which I don't think they are right now,” he said. 

Wood said residents in the Pine Hills area have told her they are feeling overrun by turkeys. While there used to be few flocks, there are now scores of 15 to 20.

And as they have no natural predators, they don’t seem to have any fear, Wood said. She said one possible solution to reducing their population would be to get people to go out and gather the turkey eggs, which has been tried in other cities.

Councilor Dan English defended turkeys. Kind of.  

“Some of my best friends are turkeys,” he said during Tuesday's council meeting, then added, “That didn’t come out right.” 

English said there’s another Coeur d'Alene critter causing greater concern.

"Some people are more worried about being overrun with rabbits than turkeys,” he said.

A healthy population of floppy-eared friends live in Sanders Beach. An effort to trap and release them in the wild far away by some residents last year failed to have the desired effect.

“We should look at the whole urban zoo thing,” English said. 

Wild turkeys are not native to Idaho and were first transplanted here in 1961, according to Idaho Fish and Game. Merriam’s wild turkey is prominent in the Panhandle, Clearwater and Southwest regions. 

Wood wants the city to discuss a few options, such as a safe and humane way to trap and relocate them. The issue is expected to be on a future City Council agenda. 

She makes it clear she wants to keep the fine feathered friends alive and well.