Wild Turkey Terrorizes NJ Neighborhood (July 22, 2009) |
TENAFLY, N.J. (WPIX)—
A wild turkey is taking charge and running amok on a block in a northern New Jersey neighborhood, residents say.The terrorizing turkey is apparently bullying the residents of Hillside Avenue in Tenafly, where neighbors claim that it has chased them down the street, pecked at the tires of a postal service truck, and even has engaged in standoffs with cars attempting to pull out of driveways.
Resident Gary Zamchick said one encounter with the 4-foot tall bird left him fleeing for his life.
"I was attempting to put a garage sale sign up on the spot where the turkey was standing," Zamchick said, recounting his meeting with the turkey to PIX News. "He then started walking toward me and then he started chasing me. I ran as fast as I could back to my house."
Later in the day, Zamchick got in his car, drove to the same spot and successfully posted his garage sale sign.
According to residents, the first time anyone ever heard about the wild turkey in town was when the animal had a run-in with the neighborhood mailman.
A couple of weeks ago, Zamchick said he was approached by the visibly upset mailman who launched into his story, claiming the turkey chased him down Hillside Avenue, and prevented him from delivering mail. The mail carrier told residents, the bird also targeted his postage truck by pecking at its tires.
A number of neighbors have experienced similar encounters with the animal, but none of them ended in injuries.
"We see raccoons, some skunks and sometimes opossums but it is unusual to have such a very large bird on our block," Zamchick said. "I actually love the fact the turkey is on our block, I'm not concerned about it at all."
Since an attack by the turkey has yet to be reported, Bergen County animal control has not gotten involved in the case. However, a spokesperson for the Tenafly Nature Center is urging residents not to feed the animal because it is clearly associating food with humans, which is sparking the ongoing chases in the neighborhood. If residents come face to face with the bird, they are advised to clap, stomp, and yell to scare it away.
