Interspecies War
Meaghan Tolson has become the national spokesperson for the battle of the species unfolding in Woburn, Massachusetts. People are being attacked even in their houses and in their cars. The attacks are happening near Nashua and Tremont streets. Every neighbor has a story, and most have hilarious, yet terrifying, videos of the incidents. Meaghan has almost a dozen videos of the assaults. Residents say no one is spared from the wrath of the combatants, who have been known to go after everyone from kids on bicycles to locals ducking behind their front doors. “You have to open your car passenger side door and lure them over there, then make a clean break to the house,” laughs Tolson. “They always go toward [my neighbor’s] car, so she will refuse to leave her house if they are going toward her car,” tells April Drolette, another neighbor. “There have been times I’m trapped in my car, can’t get out, and have to call family members. They usually bring an umbrella. It takes a team.” “The most aggressive one is Kevin,” says Meaghan Tolson, who has named the aggressive birds. “Then there are three ladies because their coloring isn’t so distinct. It’s Esther, Gladys and Patricia. Even if you are parked, Kevin will try to get in your car.” Why are these people being targeted… why this neighborhood… and what are the government officials going to do to save them?
The spokesman for civilian authorities, David Scarpitti says: the problem likely stems from residents feeding the birds, which could convince the turkeys that humans are part of their flock — prompting them to assert their dominance. Turkeys can become aggressive if people feed them or if they find food in bird feeders. Then, they start to see humans as part of their “flock” and try to “dominate” them. “Turkey behavior starts to kick in where they become so habituated with people that they are not really seeing that distinction.” “It’s all about how people respond to the turkeys. If you turn and run away, now you are subdominant. He just won that battle.” This type of aggression takes time and comes when people feed the animals. The longer the birds get accustomed to humans, the more they see people as part of their flock. The pecking and chasing are them asserting dominance over people. “The most aggressive one is Kevin,” says Meaghan. Scarpitti urges people not to feed wild animals. If you do encounter one of these aggressive turkeys, keep them in front of you, and open an umbrella in their direction. It will scare them off and protect you. The turkeys hold people hostage by stalking them in their homes or cars. “Turkey behavior starts to kick in where they become so habituated with people that they are not really seeing that distinction,” David Scarpitti told CBS News. The Guardian reports, turkeys are native to Massachusetts but died out in 1851 because of habitat loss. More than a century later, biologists reintroduced the birds to the state by trapping 37 turkeys in New York and releasing them in Massachusetts. The turkeys thrived, and now number between 30,000 and 35,000.
Fowl Humor
What sound does a one legged turkey make?
“Wobble Wobble.”
Scientists created a six-legged turkey for families who fight over the drumsticks,
But the turkeys escaped, and no one can catch them.
There’s always something to be thankful for on Thanksgiving. Even if it’s just not being a turkey.
Searching through a freezer full of turkeys for Christmas the lady could not find one large enough. She called over to the clerk and pointing to the turkeys asked, “Do they get any bigger?” He looked at her and replied, “No lady, they are dead.”
December 22nd Birthdays
1999 – G. Hannelius, 1974 – Heather Donahue, 1968 – Dina Meyer, 1993 – Aliana Lohan
1971 – Ted Cruze, 1963 – Ralph Fiennes, 1959 – Robin Gibb, 2000 – Joshua Bassett