By Tim Binnall
A mobile home park in Minnesota has become the site of a bizarre battle between beleaguered residents and a troublesome wild turkey that has taken up residence in the community. According to a local media report, the strange showdown started around November of 2021 when the bellicose bird arrived in the town of Coon Rapids. Since that time, the turkey has come to believe that the community's mobile park home is its territory and, much to the chagrin of the people living there, the creature seems particularly keen on protecting its turf. "This turkey attacks me every single day," lamented resident Rachael Gross, "follows me, goes up my stairs, tries to get into my house. When I leave in my car, it follows my car."
The bird's aggressive antics have become so bothersome that people living in the mobile park home now arm themselves for protection. "I have to carry my broom and my water and my golf club everywhere I go," Gross said, noting that the local children who wait for the school bus every morning "carry sticks" in case they run afoul of the ornery foul. Her dismay over the situation was echoed by fellow resident Emily Ahlsten, who revealed that she is afraid to take her granddaughter outside due to the presence of the territorial bird. "This turkey has literally taken over our life," an understandably irritated Gross declared.
Unfortunately, it would seem that the mobile park home may be stuck with their unwanted 'mascot' as the state's Department of Natural Resources indicated that "trapping and relocating 'nuisance' turkeys is not an option." Their reasoning is that the usual means of capturing a wild turkey "are often impractical or ineffective" in residential settings. Additionally, the department argued that such birds are likely to "continue their inappropriate actions where they are released or may move substantial distances to other suburban sites." With no relief in sight for the frustrated residents, one can only hope that some kind of peace can be reached, lest someone decide to take down the aggressive turkey for good.