One of two turkeys often seen hanging out near the corner of Orchard Road and Route 30 was killed Oct. 9 after it was struck by a car, Montgomery Police Chief Daniel Meyers said.
“It was a sad day. Those two had been out there for years,” Meyers said.
According to Meyers, the unknown driver did not stop after striking the animal, but police were later called to the scene to dispose of the dead turkey after someone noticed it in the road.
“I know they’re not supposed to be near traffic, but sometimes they walk toward Orchard Road,” Meyers said. “You get going 50 mph and it’s tough to stop if they do come out.”
Meyers said this particular turkey must have wandered out too far and got struck.
Sandy Gerardo, of Oswego, was stuck in traffic at the intersection around 10:45 a.m. the day the turkey was killed. She said she saw several squad cars near the dead bird, and an even sadder sight.
“There was one turkey not wanting to leave the dead turkey’s side,” she said. “Traffic was backing up.”
Police reported in dispatch notes that the dead turkey was in the roadway when spotted by a passing driver who called 911. A second turkey was “standing by it, refusing to get out of the road,” police wrote.
The birds were removed from the road within 15 minutes of the call.
Gerardo described a time when there used to be as many as six turkeys roaming near the intersection. Then, there were two turkeys, and now there’s only one, she said.
More Top Picks Best Shoes For Stability And Motion Control
April Harris, of Montgomery, said she and her son noticed the missing turkey last week, and he’s taking the news pretty hard.
Harris and 11-year-old Alex Arredondo drive by the intersection every day when they drop Harris’ husband off at work. She said Alex loves seeing the animals.
“He loves mother nature, so every day we talk about the turkeys and if they live on a farm or have a family,” she said. Alex would also talk about how scared they might be to be so close to the road.
“He is always scared that something is going to happen to them or if they’ll become a turkey dinner,” Harris said. “I tell him, ‘No. They are part of the town.'”
For months, Alex would smile and tell the turkeys ‘Gobble! Gobble!” Harris said. Now that he’s realized one is missing, he’s grown sad.
“He wants us to find a home and mate for the other one,” Harris said.