The Observation Deck

This past weekend, I had the pleasure of doing some plumbing work around the house! If
there is one thing I am not, it's being handy. so I headed up to Glen at Lakewood Hardware
first to see what I needed. I always start local, with locally owned businesses before going
to national chains that compete against local businesses. Anyway he told me to check this
and that, and this and sure enough it was fixed.

BUT THEN SOMETHING HAPPENED!!!!

Glen casually asked if I have seen any wild turkeys around the city. I said I remembered the
turkey that lived for over a decade behind the homes on Lewis Drive, where it was fed and
protected by the residents. But that was over 20 years go, it certainly must be dead by now.
I mentioned that Mickie had to chase a coyote out of the patio at Georgetown last week. But
that I had not see a turkey in Lakewood for 15 years. Hell I have a friend who has hunted
wild turkeys for years, never even getting close enough to warrant a shot. Then he showed
me this.


A wild turkey on the front lawn of Harding School.

Well certainly this must be a sign. "Naw, that's a wild turkey Jim." said Glen.

Then his daughter showed me this one...


This is from her phone.

"Well Glen you have to admit this is a sign." he shook his head and said, "Nope that's
a wild turkey too Jim." I had to admit he was right.

Then a woman walked in off the street and mentioned she lived around the corner and her
home has been besieged by toads. I asked more than one, and she said yes, they are coming
in as fast as I can get them out!

Well if I am not mistaken, that has to be a sign.

If the city rejoiced at one time not too long ago over wild turkeys, why can't we relax
enough to try captive hens?

A sign? you tell me.


.

Did you see this turkey on Friday by any chance? I was taking my son to the BMV in Parma Friday afternoon and saw a wild turkey walking down the sidewalk on 150th right by 480. It was the oddest thing, it was just walking north like it was just on a casual stroll around the neighborhood. I saw a wild turkey in my mom's backyard about 5 years ago.

Danielle Masters wrote:Did you see this turkey on Friday by any chance? I was taking my son to the BMV in Parma Friday afternoon and saw a wild turkey walking down the sidewalk on 150th right by 480. It was the oddest thing, it was just walking north like it was just on a casual stroll around the neighborhood. I saw a wild turkey in my mom's backyard about 5 years ago.

Danielle

I did not see it, just got these images from those that did. Maybe they are making a comeback. I know in some
cultures wild turkeys are a sign of luck and prosperity.

If I may be so bold, was you Mom's house near Lewis Dr?

.

Last school year I was driving the boys to school, and we were at Harding. There were police in front of the school directing traffic. As we slowly inched our way I noticed a FLOCK of wild turkeys in the road and just wandering. Me being the smart a$$ that I am asked why they were blocking traffic and said "Isn't it Darwinism if they land in the middle of the main street with cars. Weakest link man!!!" Of course I was joking, I would never hit an animal with my car. I am the insane person who stops for squirrels and gets out of my car to help geese along too. (and I wonder why I am always being attacked...lol)

Saturday on 90 there were a couple wild turkeys walking along the side of the road too. We are being invaded.

I also have a fox living behind my neighbors garage. Friendly little booger too.

Missy Limkemann wrote:Last school year I was driving the boys to school, and we were at Harding. There were police in front of the school directing traffic. As we slowly inched our way I noticed a FLOCK of wild turkeys in the road and just wandering. Me being the smart a$$ that I am asked why they were blocking traffic and said "Isn't it Darwinism if they land in the middle of the main street with cars. Weakest link man!!!" Of course I was joking, I would never hit an animal with my car. I am the insane person who stops for squirrels and gets out of my car to help geese along too. (and I wonder why I am always being attacked...lol)

Saturday on 90 there were a couple wild turkeys walking along the side of the road too. We are being invaded.

I also have a fox living behind my neighbors garage. Friendly little booger too.

Missy

You would be the last person I would think of that would hurt an animal! The only way I see you hurting an animal
is if the animal was a human, abusing an animal.

There was a red tail fox living over by the Sloan Subway, that everyone kept secret for years. Maybe its a
relative of that one.

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I saw a wild turkey, possibly this same one, strolling in a front yard on Riverside at 7am on Sunday. I had heard they were around, but I had never seen one in Lakewood.

My neighbors had a wild turkey in their tree on Friday. Very bizarre, I haven't seen them since being in Hinckley several years ago when I saw a flock walking through some yards.

Walk in one of the bars on almost any corner.... I see them all the time

Jim O'Bryan wrote:Danielle

I did not see it, just got these images from those that did. Maybe they are making a comeback. I know in some
cultures wild turkeys are a sign of luck and prosperity.

If I may be so bold, was you Mom's house near Lewis Dr?

.

It was quite a sight, had we not been in a hurry to reach the BMV offices before they closed we would have taken a picture. Several people were stopping and looking.

And she lived on Giel at the time near the tracks, perhaps it was tired of flying and decided to take a trip in a box car.

turkeys were almost extinct in the 1930's. the odnr reintroduced the turkeys into the wild.
in 1987 ohio had about 22,000 turkeys, this year the estimate is 203,000. as the turkey population grows,
the turkeys expand into suburbia, that is why we are seeing more birds in our back yards.
it is getting to be mating season for the turkeys, so don't be surprised if a tom gets aggressive and sees
you as a threat.
turkey hunting season begins april 23 - may 20
take a youth hunting, be safe and have fun
gobble, gobble, gobble

More calls came in today about a turkey roaming the streets by Giant Eagle. Perhaps this was a suicidal wanting
to make a statement, or possible a turkey trying to remind us that people can eat more than ham or lamb on Easter.

I cannot put my self into the turkey's head, but after looking around I saw no turkey.

Keep an eye out, and have the stuffing ready!


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There was a turkey in my yard and my dogs were terrified of the thing. Except my lap (she killed a hawk last summer) and she was going insane to get at it. Thankfully Butterball (that is the turkey's name now) just kept going....