Wild turkey terrorises town for years and forces locals to carry weapons
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A local neighbourhood has become that terrorised by a turkey that they end up walking the local streets with weapons to protect themselves.
Typically, you wouldn't really associate the bird as being the most daunting and scary species, but residents in Coon Rapids, Minnesota will likely disagree.
When the scary turkey turned up just before Thanksgiving in 2021, residents would have never expected the terror and fear the seemingly innocent bird would bring to a quiet neighbourhood.
It is unclear if the bird is a stray, but it has remained on the streets of Minnesota since that cold Thanksgiving day.
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And residents for sure know when the turkey is planning an attack, as it will go blue in the face, leaving many people petrified.
As it has more than overstayed its welcome, residents have given the bird a name - Gladys.
Meanwhile, another resident called him Reggae - but the name of this attack-minded bird is the least of residents' concerns.
Video footage shows the Reggae or Gladys seemingly unfazed by water, as a local resident to scare it away.
The fearless turkey has also been seen trying to enter properties, pecking tyres, and even chasing down cars like it's in a Fast and Furious movie.
One of the local residents who 'lives in fear' of the bird is Rachel Gross, 41, who leaves the house with weapons in case the bird comes on the attack.
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Gross told CBS News: "This turkey has literally taken over our life.
"This turkey attacks me every single day.
"Follows me, goes up my stairs, tries to get into my house. When I leave in my car, it follows my car.
"I have to carry my broom and my water and my golf club everywhere I go."
Emily Ahlsten, another resident, added that she worries about kids who live in the area, saying she is afraid to take her young granddaughter outside.
She said: "My one-year-old grandbaby just moved in with us and I'm afraid to even take her outside especially when the weather gets warmer like we can't have people over, we can't have a barbecue.
"The kids that walk to the bus stop in the morning I have to come out and help them. But now they are smart and they carry sticks."
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Believe it or not, this turkey is not the only one caught on camera being a bit unfriendly to us humans.
This one woman was left with 'turkey trauma' after a flock of turkeys attacked her twice in a single week.
It left her being on guard at the constant threat of the bird while on daily walks, after they bruised her pretty badly.
Experts say that turkeys can be aggressive during mating season, which typically happens between the months of February and April.
So next time you see a turkey, be careful, eh?
