Wild turkey causing traffic troubles in Kitchener
Posted Mar 2, 2016 11:11:59 AM.
Last Updated Mar 2, 2016 12:22:24 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
A wild turkey has been messing with motorists in the Doon area of Kitchener this week.
The Tom – an Ontario wild turkey – was spotted during the Monday afternoon rush hour on Manitou Drive.
He was right in the middle of the road at Doon Village and Homer Watson.
Staff Sgt Jim Strand with the Regional Police Traffic Unit tells 570 News that it’s best to give them their space. He adds they can be aggressive but most likely, they are just looking for food.
He says if you do hit one be sure to call police and if you can, try to get around them as they are big and heavy and can damage your vehicle.
Strand says the biggest complaint they get is about wild turkeys hanging out in parking lots and standing on-top of cars.
Gary Boes with the KW Human Society says he believes there is a reason the bird keeps coming back to the same area.
“Because of the frequency that we’re seeing this wild turkey, and I don’t know if it’s male or female, somebody is feeding it. And that’s why it’s coming back to that location on a daily basis.”
Boes says moving the turkey won’t stop it from coming back again.
“Relocation is not an option because the Ministry of Natural Resources has stated any wildlife can only be relocated a kilometre away. Also the other thing, these wild turkeys, they might look small and like they can’t do you any damage. But make no mistake, they can.”
The Ontario wild turkey was almost extinct and has grown in population over the years.
