Coturnix quail getting released to the wild

[EvieChickenGirl]

Hi. I have chickens and coturnix quail. Recently, i've noticed that the "wild" flock isn't "wild. It's abandoned/released coturnix quail. I think someone in my neighborhood has been doing it but I don't know anyone with quail around here. We have two types of quail. The native California Quail and then the Coturnix quail that are out in the wild. There are about 6 of e'm. I've noticed some males, but mostly females. I'm worried they won't survive as they are coyotes, bobcats, the occasional mountain lion and then snakes up here. But then the california quail do survive and it seems like the coturnix are fine....but then hmm. I don't know. Thoughts on what I should do? Or just leave e'm be and hope they survive? that doesn't seem humane though.

 

[ChickenCanoe]

They may be able to evade some predators but depending on what part of California, they may not survive next winter.
They are definitely not native. As benign as one may think they are, Non-native species should never be released into the wild as you already know.

 

[FunClucks]

Capture them if you can. They should not be allowed to reproduce in the wild as they will mess things up for native species.

 

[Nabiki]

This is not good.

One, they are not native and it's illegal to release them into the wild.
Two, they have very little survival instinct, and EVERYTHING likes to eat them.

If you can catch them, you should. I hope they are escapees rather than a deliberate release for the reasons above.

 

[EvieChickenGirl]

okay, I will try to catch them. I just don't know what to do with them if I do. My aviaries are a little full..

 

[EvieChickenGirl]

What if I don't catch them?

 

[EvieChickenGirl]

Should I alert local law enforcement?

 

[Nabiki]

If you don't catch them, they will probably die. It wouldn't hurt to check with your local animal control to see what they say.

 

[EvieChickenGirl]

okay

 

[pac]

I'd contact Fish and Game before LEO's.
If only so they can investigate how they just happened to get there.
But I doubt they would bother with trying to catch them. Not unless they were banded.