Turkey Attack on Mail Carrier?

The Postman’s Motto “Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds” appears on the main New York City Post Office.

But turkeys. Turkeys, however…

A letter carrier was attacked by turkeys in Richfield, Minnesota on Thursday, June 22, 2023. The attack happened on the 7100 block of Oak Grove Boulevard. The letter carrier suffered minor injuries, including cuts to his hands and torn pants.

The turkeys are believed to have been defending their young. The letter carrier was able to escape the attack and was not seriously injured.

This is not the first time that a letter carrier has been attacked by turkeys. In 2019, a letter carrier in Boston was attacked by two turkeys and suffered a broken hip. In 2020, a letter carrier in Minnesota was attacked by a turkey and suffered cuts to his face.

Turkeys can be aggressive animals, especially when they are protecting their young. If you encounter a turkey, it is important to stay calm and avoid making any sudden movements. If the turkey approaches you, try to back away slowly. If the turkey attacks you, defend yourself with whatever you have available, such as a stick or a bag.

It is also important to be aware of your surroundings when you are delivering mail. If you see a group of turkeys, it is best to avoid the area altogether.

In a statement, the United States Postal Service said:

“Turkeys can sometimes be aggressive and territorial, and this can sometimes be a nuisance for mail carriers when they block their vehicles or chase them off of a property where the turkeys are protecting their young. The safety of our employees is a top priority. We are treating this incident like any other animal attack, and if the carrier feels threatened or endangered, the carrier can suspend mail delivery until the situation is resolved.”

As we determined with our Goose Self-Defense article, pepper spray will work on geese and probably turkeys… It is just difficult to aim at their small heads, so a pepper spray fogger may be necessary. Or perhaps a stun gun baton.

As always, be safe and be prepared.