King's Forest Golf Club is facing a seemingly insoluble problem with "teenage mutant ninja turkeys."

A pair of young male turkeys have made the first tee their favourite spot this summer, perusing around carts, blocking shots and even jumping in the back of staff trucks.

But not all of the socializing with golfers has been amiable.

On Monday night, Diana Alton, 65, was teeing off on the 10th hole of the city-owned course with her friend when she hit a ball near the birds. When she went to retrieve it, the turkeys bombarded her, surrounding her on both sides and flapping aggressively. She tried to hold them off by swinging her pitching wedge.

"They weren't intimidated at all," she said, noting they kept chasing the pair as the women raced away in their cart. "I'm not a wimp, but I was frightened."

After the round, Alton told management about being terrorized by the birds, but was told that there's nothing they could do.

Club management is aware of the two teenage "Bobbsey Twins," part of a group of an estimated 15 turkeys and hens nesting on the course.

But the other turkeys don't tend to bother golfers, just these two "domesticated" birds, said Chris Anker, golf course superintendent for the City of Hamilton.

"We've been calling them the teenage mutant ninja turkeys," said Anker. "They chase people and chase my staff around and it's become a bit of a joke."

This is the first time the course has had an issue with wild turkeys. Anker consulted Animal Services a few weeks ago, but was told relocations are not legal unless the birds become a liability and injure someone.

The only option is to educate staff and golfers how to coexist with the turkeys, Anker said.

"It's funny, but it is going to become a liability."

Driving up to the first hole on King's Forest last week, a group of course staffers and golfers could be seen feeding the two turkeys bits of apple, while taking photos.

"We don't usually feed the birds," Anker said.

Karen Edwards, animal services adviser for the City of Hamilton, said unless the wild turkeys were dead or injured, staff do not have the authority to act or relocate the birds.

She recommends golfers keep their distance from the turkeys and stop feeding them.

"Most wild animals have natural fear of humans and we like people to respect that," said Edwards.

She recommended the course consult with a private service.

Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading... Loading...

But they likely won't be able to help either, explained Sean Thornton, owner of Regional Wildlife Services in Burlington.

"There is no way to solve it because our hands are tied with relocation laws," he said.

In Ontario, it's illegal to trap and relocate an animal more than one kilometre from where it was caught.

When anyone has an issue with wildlife, Thornton recommends filing a complaint with the municipality, which may encourage the Ministry of Natural Resources to address the issue, if it's large enough.

Ministry spokesperson Jolanta Kowalski wrote in an email that the ministry provides advice on managing problem wildlife, but they "do not relocate turkeys."

It's the same policy for most wildlife because of the risk of spreading illness.

The wild turkey population is currently a hunted species, with an estimated 70,000 birds in the province, according to the last ministry report.

However, King's Forest is not situated in a designated hunting zone, nor is it permissible to operate a firearm on the premises.

Steve Nicholson of the Canadian Wild Turkey Federation said the winter may solve the issue, as wild turkeys often relocate to habitats with more coverage and better access to food.

"Typically they don't just come out and hang," he said of the course's situation. "I think the magic key is to stop feeding them. But even that may be too late, because they are already educated."