Yesterday morning, local Radio station KLIN was giving its usual morning traffic report, when the newscaster mentioned a traffic snarl near 56th and Pine Lake Road caused by turkeys in the roadway. That's just around the corner from my place, and I've encountered this flock of birds interfering with the use of the street on a few previous occasions. Lucky for them, I couldn't find my ticket book quickly enough to cite the miscreants. Come to find out, troubles with urban turkeys are increasing nationwide. This is what happens when turkeys are uprooted from their traditional rural lifestyle, and migrate to the environs of the city. Cut loose from the restraints of the usual institutions of social control, the young turkeys run amok. Gangs are part of the problem, I suspect, coupled with the influence of popular culture on impressionable young gobblers struggling to fit into a urban culture dramatically different than the agrarian society of their parents. What we need here is a few more wily coyotes.
14 comments:
Perhaps this is their leader.
I'm afraid it's not just the edges of town that turkeys have invaded. I swear a few have made it all the way to the city council chambers.
Just last summer I gazed a wild turkey nonchalantly sauntering on through the south side of Woods Park. It really took me by surprise. I think it even woke up the LPD officer who was on a stakeout\nap in the parking lot. ;)
ARRG!!!! and Steve: Hilarious! Tom, I have seen that herd of turkeys that you are speaking of. It's really quite the sight and pretty exciting to see! Thanks for a great blog; it really made me LOL!
That gang of turkeys has been running amuck around Alvo Rd & Flether Ave for years. Just goes to show that it doesn't matter to anyone until it happens on the south side of town.
Just Kidding! I actually enjoy seeing them very much. A little delay in traffic by the turkeys was the highlight of my kid's day!
The ones I see near the sunken gardens really seem fond of wolfing down small snakes.
On a more serious note, turkeys are prevalent pretty much all around the edges of town. I've seen them down in Wilderness Park where Old Cheney passes through, Out on North 14th, the rafter (or gang) the director mentioned, and another rafter out near Southeast Community College. Like any other wild creature, they are particularly interesting to town folk, but don't kid yourselves. These are large birds that can do a lot of damage to your car, and even come through the windshield and do damage to you or your passengers. I saw pickup hit one just east of SCC on O St. one day. It looked like a feather bomb went off, and I can only imagine the damage to the truck.
4:52,
I love snake-eating turkeys.
Steve,
Turkey encounters are destined to become more and more common.
Tom @ 4:52, That's funny. You don't strike me as a 'snake squeamish' person!
Isn't Pheasant Run close to the Turkeys that were spotted? Maybe they were staging a protest demanding their own Cul de Sac?
Gun Nut
Gun Nut, That's funny!!!
Gun Nut:
Don't forget, Quail Ridge Road is very nearby too.
Steve, Bahahaha! That's a good one, too!!
And not to change the subject BUT, I always worry about our LEOs and emergency personnel when the weather gets so nasty. PLEASE stay safe, y'all, and THANK YOU for all you do. There are many of us who appreciate everything you do. You are the BEST.
Some of these menaces to the community have names like Kluk Kluk. I'm pretty sure I've seen their mug booking photos before.
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