Unlikely Suspects Causing Property Damage in Lakewood

Recent damage to Lakewood properties is being blamed on wild turkeys. Residents have been complaining about the damage to the Township's Department of Public works, but there's nothing they can do, according to The Lakewood Scoop.

Animal control can not trap or relocate the wild birds since they are indigenous to the area.

Adult wild turkeys can weigh upwards of 20 pounds. They can destroy flowers and vegetable gardens, leave their droppings on patios and decks, and roost on cars, scratching the paint.

Residents are being warned that the turkeys can become aggressive during breeding season and have been known to occasionally charge and threaten people.

To avoid problems, residents can take a few precautions to make their properties less inviting for the turkeys, including removing bird feeders and installing motion-detecting sprinklers. Dogs also are intimidating to wild turkeys, and opening an umbrella can help steer away a wild turkey looking for a confrontation.