By Joyce DeWallace, Contributing Writer
Photo/Joyce DeWallace
Shrewsbury – Reports of turkeys strutting near the intersection of Main Street and Route 140 in downtown Shrewsbury started in mid-summer. Four tom turkeys have decided that crossing Main Street is their prerogative. Honking horns don’t seem to bother the gobbling turkeys. Traffic crawls around the birds or comes to a standstill.
“They’re territorial,” explained Animal Control Officer Leona Pease. “A woman is feeding them. Besides halting traffic, they’re threatening postal workers. People shouldn’t be feeding wild animals of any kind because they get habituated and become a public nuisance or a danger to the public.”
When Pease gets a turkey call, she jumps into her van and heads for the tie up. She keeps a supply of turkey food to lure the birds to follow her. Turning the van on and off attracts them as well. She gets out and calls, “Here turkey turkey!” and gets them to follow her to the cemetery so that traffic can flow normally.
The environmental police have been contacted, but have been unable to capture the feathered street walkers. Pease is asking the public not to call 911 if they spot the turkeys.
“Do not tie up the 911 number. Call me at 508-841-8421 or the regular police number, 508-841-8577, if you spot the offending flock,” she urged.
Until they’re captured or decide to move on, drivers are urged to be cautious and aware of a growing suburban road hazard. These brazen gobblers have decided that if builders continue to develop their spaces, they will just take over ours!