Woman left with horrific injuries after being attacked by gang of wild turkeys
Emily Crum, an animal control officer with the Alameda Police Department said the city currently cannot remove the wild turkeys.ABC7
By Nina Joudeh
A gang of wild turkeys ambushed a woman on her evening walk in Alameda – leaving her so badly bloodied she required stitches.
Mary Jo Kelly, 83, a longtime resident of the Bay Area city, said she was out walking last Thursday when two of the birds attacked her from behind, sending her crashing to the ground.
Mary Jo Kelly, a longtime resident of the Bay Area city, said she was out walking last Thursday when two of the birds attacked her from behind, sending her crashing to the ground.ABC7
“I went headfirst, and I broke my glasses. I hit the palm of my hand, my thumb. I bled in the nose,” Kelly told ABC 7.
The frightening encounter left Kelly with severe bruising across her face that remained visible a week later.
The frightening encounter left Kelly with severe bruising across her face that remained visible a week later.ABC7
The ordeal has left Kelly shaken and demanding action from city officials before someone else gets hurt.
She contacted the Alameda Police Department to file a report after the attack, but said officers told her they could not take one because the incident involved wildlife.
“If a dog bites you, of course they’re going to pick him up. But that’s domestic. So they’re ignoring the problem basically,” Kelly said.
The ordeal has left Kelly shaken and demanding action from city officials before someone else gets hurt.ABC7
Emily Crum, an animal control officer with the Alameda Police Department, said the city currently cannot remove the wild turkeys.
Crum explained birds are in their spring mating season, a period when they can become more aggressive. The department also noted that a turkey recently attacked a pet dog.
Despite the terrifying encounter, Kelly said she refuses to let the birds keep her indoors forever. For now, though, she’s staying closer to home and steering clear of any turkeys she spots.ABC7
“Try to not approach them. Go on the other side of the street. Make sure you have a leash on your dog. And just try to stay as far away from them as possible,” she added.
Despite the terrifying encounter, Kelly said she refuses to let the birds keep her indoors forever. For now, though, she’s staying closer to home and steering clear of any turkeys she spots.
“It was just pretty scary. Kind of shell shocked. A little afraid to go too far.”
It’s not the first time turkeys in the area have sparked chaos, with a notorious one once taking months to catch after attacking people in the area.
In 2020 a wildlife expert took the strange measure of dressing up as an elderly woman to try to lure the creature before trapping it.
She told the outlet she contacted the Alameda Police Department to file a report after the attack, but said officers told her they could not take one because the incident involved wildlife.ABC7
Nicknamed Gerald, the bird ruffled the feathers of Oakland residents for about five months, pouncing on visitors to the neighborhood’s Morcom Rose Garden.
Residents described the turkey charging at them, jumping on them and clawing and pecking incessantly as they tried to run away.
Gerald was finally caught after five months by Rebecca Dmytryk, director of Wildlife Emergency Services, who disguised herself as a frail, elderly woman and baited the bird with blueberries, kibble and seeds.
When Gerald predictably charged at her, Dmytryk said she “scruffed” the turkey — grabbing him by the neck in a way that doesn’t hurt the bird.
He was then released onto wild land near Orinda.
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