Walking across campus has never been more dangerous. Landmines of goose feces cover the university grasslands, seagulls and parrots dive out of the sky at random, skunks threaten to expose their stench and, worst of all, students are now being stalked by turkeys.
When Katelyn Rooney ’07 was dropped off in her dorm after Easter Break, her mother’s car was attacked by several fowl feathered trotters.
“My mom was didn’t know what to do,” said Rooney. “The turkeys were crossing the road in front of her car and suddenly they all turned and started pecking at her wheels.”
Todd Pelazza, the director of Public Safety, says that an official complaint hasn’t been received regarding the turkey attacks, but it has been noticed that the turkeys have become more aggressive.
“In the wild, turkeys would stay far away from people,” said Pelazza, “but those on campus have become desensitized to humans.”
Some students said that they have problems enjoying time outside because of the turkeys.
“They freak me out when I play disc golf because they are so aggressive,” said Will Kriewald ’08. “I had never personally experienced a turkey before coming to Fairfield and it seems like they just came out of nowhere.”
The turkey wae once suggested by Benjamin Franklin to be the national bird. Turkeys ceased to exist in Connecticut until 15 years ago when they were reintroduced by the Environmental Protection Agency.
The Eastern Turkey (those that flock through Fairfield’s campus), were probably spotted for the first time about four years ago according to Pelazza.
“Even when we first started seeing them there were only a few,” said Pelazza. “Now you typically see as many as 15.”
These birds usually don’t migrate great distances, and without major predators they continue to grow in number. They can normally be found among the upper branches of the trees behind Bellarmine Hall and usually only roam campus to eat their standard diet of grains, insects and berries.
Despite students’ fears of the raptor-like birds, the only official problem that the university had with the turkeys occurred four years ago.
“One of the turkeys came crashing through one of the windows in the main dining hall,” said Pelazza. “It died upon impact and startled a few people.”
During courting season as spring approaches, the male turkey struts around fluffing its feathers and becomes more aggressive. Usually the toms, or male birds, have a longer beard and more fluorescent colored feathers. Also, their tails are darker and longer, said naturalist Patrick Connor.
“The two toms on campus have become more aggressive this year than others,” said Pelazza. “if this continues, Animal Control will be called to trap and relocate them.”
Leave a Reply