TURKEY POPULATION IS GROWING CONCERN.

Byline: Keith Lair Staff Writer

Success stories can be rare in California hunting circles. But when the Department of Fish and Game and National Wild Turkey Federation began transplanting Merriam's turkeys into the state 44 years ago, little did either organization realize the success the birds would have.

There are probably close to 250,000 birds living in the state, double the population of a decade ago. The release of transplanted birds was halted in 1999.

They have been so successful, they have become a problem.

``We have too many on state park and private lands,'' Department of Fish and Game biologist Scott Gardner said. ``The old DFG went for it and thought having (turkeys) was a good idea. They did not anticipate the growth of cities, and that wild turkeys would be so successful.''

Turkeys were native to California about 10,000 years ago before dying out. Officials say they are not surprised by the turkey's success in the state.

``We have a better (turkey) habitat than most areas,'' Gardner said. ``We have a nice mix of low-level mountain ranges and grasslands.''

James Powell of the NWTF agrees.

``A turkey's adaptability depends on the geography, and in California it's supreme. They definitely have an ecological niche.''

The turkey population is not a huge problem in Southern California, although Gardner said there are some problem areas in the San Diego area. The bigger battle is in the Sacramento area and in grape-growing regions. Grape growers are particularly upset at the birds because they say turkeys consume their product. The farmers are planning to seek legislation that would let them shoot the birds out of season, just as they can other animals.

But Powell said turkeys are not the real culprits. The NWTF has videotaped grape-growing areas and found racoons, deer and squirrels can shoulder more of the blame.

``Turkeys feed during the day, so the growers see them,'' Powell said. ``Other wildlife feed at night, so they do not see them.

``Plus, we have a problem where people have encroached on wildlife's habitat. There's more interaction.''

Gardner has proposed that problem turkeys be moved to other parts of the state, or that the season be expanded so hunters can take more than one bird per season. He also would like to see a law making it illegal to feed turkeys.

Because of the nuisance turkeys are in state parks and in agricultural areas, hunting would be fruitless - and against current state law.

``It's more like a Band-Aid,'' Gardner said of moving the turkeys. ``But boxing them is better with the public.''

Because of the controversy, the DFG plans to wait until Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger appoints a permanent director before putting a final plan in place.

After the San Diego fires, turkeys were spotted near Julian.

``They've been considered pests in the park,'' Gardner said. ``There's been a fire and they're still there. It's pretty ugly.''

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

Keith Lair, [phone]

keith.lair(at)sgvn.com