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Resident asks Rochester Hills to bar intentional feeding of wild turkeys after aggressive encounters
Summary
A Rochester Hills resident told the council that repeated feeding of wild turkeys has habituated them, produced aggressive incidents including an encounter involving a pregnant woman, and that the DNR recommends city-level action; council agreed to bring the matter to the Feb. 2 planning meeting for follow-up.
During public comment at the Jan. 26 Rochester Hills City Council meeting, Jesse Williams said neighbors who feed wild turkeys have habituated the birds, producing aggressive behavior that threatens residents and disrupts daily life.
"My pregnant wife has been chased from her vehicle...these turkeys have known to have diseases that... affect the elderly, infants, and people with immune compromised communities as well," Williams said, describing multiple incidents and interrupted mail deliveries near his home at 2684 Stoneberry. He said the Michigan Department of Natural Resources has relocated aggressive toms and hens and advised that city involvement is the best long-term solution; he added the DNR offered to provide education to residents.
Miss Neubauer said council received Williams's email and that staff will ensure the issue is placed on the agenda or brought to the Feb. 2 planning and joint-planning meeting so it can be considered by planning staff and council. Council did not adopt any ordinance at the Jan. 26 meeting; staff said there are several ordinances under consideration and suggested the appropriate venue for drafting or amending code would be planning.
City staff and council framed the next step as a planning review rather than immediate ordinance adoption, and residents seeking changes were encouraged to follow up with council via email to provide additional information for the Feb. 2 meeting.
Next step: the matter will be added to the planning/joint planning agenda for Feb. 2 for staff review and potential ordinance drafting or recommendations to council.
