It’s now illegal to feed turkeys in Albany — along with a few other wild animals.
The newly enacted ordinance is a response to a “turkey invasion†in an Albany retirement community.
In September, several neighbors from the Mennonite Village brought to City Hall their concerns about the 70 or so turkeys that had overrun their home.
OverrunÂ
Their grievances ranged from destruction of property to safety risks for those with mobility issues because the large birds obstruct sidewalks.
Others brought health concerns over the animals scat and the destruction of community gardens.
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Some frustrated community members took to applying for hazing permits from Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife but found the methods of using loud noises to deter them fruitless as the birds grew more accustomed to being around humans.
The flock grew over the years, mainly because some people were feeding them, residents said.
So, they took the issue to the City Council in September, asking elected officials to enact an ordinance to stop the gobbling.
New ordinance
On Wednesday, Nov. 6, the Albany City Council adopted an ordinance that makes it illegal to feed turkeys and other wild animals.
“Feeding of wildlife within the city limits of Albany is declared a public nuisance and shall be prohibited at all times,†the staff report reads.
Wildlife includes animals that are not normally domesticated, such as raccoons, skunks, deer and, of course, wild turkeys.
The ordinance does not include songbirds and waterfowl.
The ordinance does not spell out a penalty, only the maximum defined under a section of Albany Municipal code. A violation would default to an unclassified misdemeanor, which has a maximum penalty of $2,500, Code Compliance Officer Kris Schendel said via email.
"The final penalty amount is decided by the judge during the court process," he said. "In my experience I have never seen it close to the maximum penalty allowed."
The law will also give the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife the authority to trap the turkeys.
“ODFW fully supports a feeding ordinance because often that is at the root of the problem,†an ODFW spokesperson said via email.
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Shayla Escudero graduated University of Southern California with a Master of Science in Journalism. She covers Albany city hall and Linn County. She is passionate about telling people forward stories and shining a light on injustices. She can be reached at [email protected]
Shayla Escudero
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