Ottawa has a turkey problem — and it's getting personal.
Wild turkeys have been spotted in growing numbers across Ottawa neighbourhoods, from Rideauview to Barrhaven to Rockcliffe-Beechwood, and residents are running out of patience. Or rather, they're running — full stop — away from them.
The Encounters Are Getting Wild
In February 2026, video of an Ottawa man being chased through midday traffic by two wild turkeys went viral, giving the rest of Canada a good laugh. But for those who live in affected neighbourhoods, it's less funny.
In Rideauview, residents filmed turkeys aggressively following and pecking at cars during garbage day. One resident described a turkey that "ran around the car right in my face, picking stuff off my car." A courier driver was so intimidated he refused to get out of his vehicle. Another resident, Marsha Ellis, put it bluntly: "He comes right at you, and sometimes pointing his beak at you."
Why Are There So Many Turkeys in Ottawa?
Ontario's wild turkey population was nearly wiped out before the 1980s. The Ministry of Natural Resources launched a restoration program in 1984, and it worked — maybe too well. Eastern and Southern Ontario now has roughly 100,000 wild turkeys, and they're increasingly showing up in suburbs and city parks.
The reason? We built houses where they used to live.
"What is happening is we're seeing them more because we're building up their normal living areas," said Lisa Wood, an avian care technologist. As fields and woodlots give way to new subdivisions, turkeys are being pushed into direct contact with humans.
But development isn't the only factor. Feeding is a huge one. When residents offer food to wild turkeys — intentionally or through accessible compost and bird feeders — the birds quickly lose their fear of people. An expert from the Ottawa Field Naturalist Club warned: "If they hadn't been fed by humans, they'd be keeping away from us. We have only ourselves to blame."
What the City Is Doing (And Isn't)
The City of Ottawa has acknowledged wild turkeys as a wildlife management concern, alongside beavers and Canada geese. But there's no removal plan.
River Ward Councillor Riley Brockington offered residents some practical advice: assert dominance. Spray them with a hose, wave your arms, open an umbrella, or use a whistle. The official city position? "Leave it alone."
Male turkeys are especially aggressive between March and June during breeding season — which means Ottawans are heading into peak turkey chaos territory right now.
What You Can Do
- Don't feed them — this is the single biggest factor in turkey aggression
- Assert dominance — make noise, make yourself big, don't run
- Secure your compost and garbage — accessible food keeps them coming back
- Keep pets inside during peak turkey activity in early morning
Ottawa's wild turkey situation isn't going away. With spring breeding season underway and more urban development pushing birds into backyards, expect more videos, more viral moments, and more very confused couriers standing at the end of driveways waiting for the coast to clear.
Sources: CTV News Ottawa, CBC News Ottawa, Capital Current, Yahoo News Canada
