Gobbler goes gallivanting

• Turkey

Cliff and Lela Hanson's feathered friend. Submitted by Pennie Burton

Talk about it

You’ve heard of blue jays and squirrels robbing bird feeders, but when was the last time you looked out and saw a turkey gobbling up the nuts and seeds? For Cliff and Lela Hanson who live on the Scenic Highway, the answer to that question is “today.”

“She comes and goes,” said Hanson. In fact, he was out washing down a spot where the hen had “gone,” and was able to get a close look at her.

“She pooped on the patio,” said Hanson, “so I went out to clean that up. I threw a bucket of water on it and she came over thinking I had thrown some food or something.”

Cliff Hanson, former owner of Penmarallter Campground, called the News-Chronicle office this morning to say that there has been a grey turkey trotting through his yard and pecking the ground around the bottom of his bird feeders for the past three or four days. He’s lived in the same place for 45 years and has never been visited by a winged bandit of this species before.

“It’s kind of different to see something like that in your yard,” said Hanson. But it appears that the fearless feathered friend is not content to eat and run. There’s a deck on the front of the house and large window that overlooks the impeccably kept yard. The bird has been seen on the deck peering in on the couple—a female peeping tom.

“She comes up and looks at us through the window,” said Hanson, “she doesn’t seem scared of people.” Because she seems so unafraid of humans, Hanson and daughter, Penny Burton, say they think she must belong to someone, possibly a neighbor.

“Maybe they’ll see the pictured and come and get her,” Burton said. In the mean-time, the turkey has been wandering back and forth across the highway, nearly invisible to drivers because of her grey color. Both Burton and Hanson expressed concern for her safety.

Hanson has made an effort to find the bird’s owner. He called the Lake County Sheriff’s office. The deputy laughed, said Hanson, and said he’ll know where to send anyone who calls to report a missing turkey.

Until someone comes to claim their critter, Hanson says he’s not bothered by her in spite of having to clean up her droppings. “The skunks are the only thing that bother me. They dig up the yard,” he said.

Anyone living in the vicinity of the campground is cautioned to keep an eye-out for this turkey on the lam. If you’ve lost your gobbler, look for her near the campground and railroad tracks across the highway. Better hurry, Thanksgiving is coming!

Tags: outdoors, life