by Tom Sasvari
KAGAWONG—While it may not be the answer Billings Township council had been hoping for from the province on help to resolve the wild turkey issue and the damage they are causing to residents’ properties, the response council received provides some options to consider.
“We at least have six options to look at,” said Billings Mayor Bryan Barker, at a council meeting last week.
“It sounds like work can be done on municipal and private properties with permission,” said Councillor Jim Cahill. “We didn’t think we were allowed to remove them (turkeys). And what the letter (from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry) indicates is that we have options.”
As was reported previously, on February 7 council approved a report and directed staff to draft a letter on behalf of council to request further action from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) regarding the wild turkey concerns in Kagawong.
With a proliferation of wild turkeys in the township destroying residents’ properties and no relief being provided by the province in the past, Billings council agreed to write the MNRF directly for help.
Graydon Smith, the minister of MNRF, explained in a letter to township bylaw enforcement officer Arthur Moran dated March 9, “thank you for writing on behalf of Mayor Bryan Barker and council of the Township of Billings regarding concerns about the turkeys in the hamlet of Kagawong. The (MNRF) understands the adverse impacts the turkeys are causing in the township. These turkeys are believed to be pen-raised and privately owned then released into the wild at one point.”
“Municipalities are responsible for deciding on and taking appropriate actions when human-wildlife encounters create ongoing conflict situations on municipal property,” said Minister Smith. “They can also take action on private property with the permission of the landowner. Under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997, landowners and municipalities have the authority to dispatch problem turkeys in protection of property. A permit from the ministry is not required to dispatch the turkeys that are damaging property. The municipality can also hire a wildlife agent or someone else to remove the animal if they fall into one of the following authorized agent types: have a valid Outdoors Card with hunter accreditation only to harass or kill wildlife but not to capture wildlife; have a valid trapping licence, be employed to control wildlife by a municipality, be your immediate family member, be a person that runs a wildlife removal business, but only to capture and release (not kill) the problem wild animals, and be authorized by the MNRF.”
“We can discuss this and the options that have been proposed, or go through the options tonight or down the road,” said Mayor Barker.
Council agreed they can review the letter and the issue at a future meeting.
