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• No Thanksgiving for Turkeys in California Wine Country

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  Elizabeth Riadi    Group moderator

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  No Thanksgiving for Turkeys in California Wine Country

  No Thanksgiving for Turkeys in California Wine Country
  
  
  
  Advice to anyone planning a visit to California wine country next year: Don't gobble.
  
  A new state law, which goes into effect Jan. 1, allows grapegrowers to kill wild turkeys that are damaging their crop. After passing with unanimous votes in both the Assembly and the Senate, the legislation was signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Sept. 10.
  
  Sen. Wesley Chesbro (D-Arcata), whose district includes Napa and parts of Sonoma, introduced SB 1153, the Wild Turkey Control Bill, at the wine industry's request, said his chief of staff, Annette Porini. Supporters of the law include the Wine Institute, Family Winemakers of California and the Napa Valley Grape Growers Association.
  
  The birds are apparently voracious eaters and are especially fond of ripe grapes. At present, growers can do little to limit the damage because the turkeys are too quick to catch and can fly over fences.
  
  "They're literally everywhere now. They're really widespread," said Jim Frisinger, vice president of North Coast vineyards for Beringer Blass Wine Estates, based in St. Helena, Calif. "If you go through a vineyard where they've been, the tips of the clusters or entire clusters are gone. And they move in flocks. I've seen a half-dozen up to 50 or 60."
  
  Wild turkeys are not native to California. From 1959 through 1999, the California Department of Fish and Game released at least 3,867 of the birds into the state. Lacking significant natural predators, their population has grown to approximately 100,000, according to an estimate from Porini.
  
  The law adds turkeys to the list of animals -- such as wild pig, elk and bear -- that may be killed to prevent property damage. But even though the birds are now fair game, it's not exactly open season. Growers need to demonstrate they have a problem, and then they can apply for a depredation permit from the Department of Fish and Game. It will be legal to shoot or trap the birds, but not to poison them.
  
  For some vintners, Jan. 1 cannot come too soon. Liesel Eisele, co-owner of Volker Eisele Vineyard in Chiles Valley in eastern Napa County, intends to get a depredation permit ASAP. The property borders wilderness on two sides, and she believes that the turkey population is growing at an alarming rate. "They are multiplying incredibly quickly," she said. "The turkeys cost us more than a negligible quantity of grapes every year."
  
  • 27 Sep 2004, 5:59 pm
  Elizabeth Riadi wrote: > No Thanksgiving for Turkeys in California Wine Country > > > > Advice to anyone planning a visit to California wine country next > year: Don't gobble. > > A new state law, which goes into effect Jan. 1, allows grapegrowers > to kill wild turkeys that are damaging their crop. After passing with > unanimous votes in both the Assembly and the Senate, the legislation > was signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Sept. 10. > > Sen. Wesley Chesbro (D-Arcata), whose district includes Napa and > parts of Sonoma, introduced SB 1153, the Wild Turkey Control Bill, at > the wine industry's request, said his chief of staff, Annette Porini. > Supporters of the law include the Wine Institute, Family Winemakers > of California and the Napa Valley Grape Growers Association. > > The birds are apparently voracious eaters and are especially fond of > ripe grapes. At present, growers can do little to limit the damage > because the turkeys are too quick to catch and can fly over fences. > > "They're literally everywhere now. They're really widespread," said > Jim Frisinger, vice president of North Coast vineyards for Beringer > Blass Wine Estates, based in St. Helena, Calif. "If you go through a > vineyard where they've been, the tips of the clusters or entire > clusters are gone. And they move in flocks. I've seen a half-dozen up > to 50 or 60." > > Wild turkeys are not native to California. From 1959 through 1999, > the California Department of Fish and Game released at least 3,867 of > the birds into the state. Lacking significant natural predators, > their population has grown to approximately 100,000, according to an > estimate from Porini. > > The law adds turkeys to the list of animals -- such as wild pig, elk > and bear -- that may be killed to prevent property damage. But even > though the birds are now fair game, it's not exactly open season. > Growers need to demonstrate they have a problem, and then they can > apply for a depredation permit from the Department of Fish and Game. > It will be legal to shoot or trap the birds, but not to poison them. > > For some vintners, Jan. 1 cannot come too soon. Liesel Eisele, > co-owner of Volker Eisele Vineyard in Chiles Valley in eastern Napa > County, intends to get a depredation permit ASAP. The property > borders wilderness on two sides, and she believes that the turkey > population is growing at an alarming rate. "They are multiplying > incredibly quickly," she said. "The turkeys cost us more than a > negligible quantity of grapes every year."