Wild Turkeys

[Cloudship]

Most wildlife does not live deep in the woods like most people grew up believing. They need open space like fields and meadows, but with enough cover, either brush and high grass, or dense wooded areas they can dart in to hide. Of course, most wildlife is very good at being hard to spot. Chances are there is a lot more wildlife around you than you think simply because you can't see it.

There is another factor too - dogs. Fewer dogs roaming around, especially unleashed, more other animals will come around, especially the small stuff. Which then brings bigger animals which in turn feed on them. Outdoor cats can also be fairly aggressive and territorial, and scare off smaller animals.

One thing I don't like about all this abundant wildlife - skunks! The dig everything up.

[WillRunForBeer]

Wild turkey takes up residence in Milford Shaw's plaza - News - Wicked Local Milford - Milford, MA

[FCMA]

Not enough people hunt inside 495 and natural predators are virtually extirpated there. Hence you have too many deer and mice and turkeys and ticks and invasive plants huddled and starving in the last few patches of trees between overpriced homes... and really it's the homo sapiens that are the overpopulated and primary disruption. Don't blame yourself, but please reflect on how even if you're lucky enough to live in Dover or the Blue Hills you are living in a sad and stressed facsimile of what used to be nature.

As part of this smoking crater you will surely see a few rebounds and overabundances of certain creatures like honey-badger iterations of turkeys, starving deer who the public will vociferously protest culling, ticks on your children and pets, and yet some other species will never return.

The diminution of natural habitats does concentrate the interesting birds for sure though! Pretty much any sizeable urban green space serves as an interesting Spring migratory oasis these days.

[Cloudship]

They just captured a black bear in Marlboro.

[timberline742]

Originally Posted by FCMA

Not enough people hunt inside 495

Lots of towns have ordinances against firearm discharge and/or hunting these days. Then of course with the density there is little legal space to hunt even without those laws due to road and structure set backs.

[robr2]

Originally Posted by timberline742

Lots of towns have ordinances against firearm discharge and/or hunting these days. Then of course with the density there is little legal space to hunt even without those laws due to road and structure set backs.

Here in Burlington, they have allowed bow hunting in the land locked forest for a few years now. IIRC, both deer and turkey have been allowed.

[tovarisch]

Cloudship, there are LOTS of bear in Mass. Be glad we only have the Black species.

[timberline742]

Originally Posted by robr2

Here in Burlington, they have allowed bow hunting in the land locked forest for a few years now. IIRC, both deer and turkey have been allowed.

The towns won't set which species are allowed to be hunted, FYI. That's under state control.