News
Email this story |
Print this story
 |
| THOMAS K. SORENSEN/ADVANCE Wayne Donnelly of Novato High School measures a window smashed by a runaway turkey Monday morning. |
Previous News Stories
June 24th, 2009
Turkey ‘bomb' terrorizes Novato High School offices; bird, staff unharmed
By Kendall Watson, Staff Writer
Wednesday, December 6, 2006 1:45 PM PST
While most Novatans thought they had seen the last of Thanksgiving dinner, a local wild turkey was determined they wouldn't forget her.
After a break between classes at around 10:15 a.m. Monday, a wild turkey smashed through an office window at Novato High School, sending surprised administrators ducking for cover.
“I thought it was a bomb,” Office Manager Lillian Rincon said, “I was calling 911 from under my desk.” A window located to the right of Principal Rey Mayoral's office was shattered by the force of the bird's impact, as it crashed through a set of venetian blinds to enter the premises. A desk facing the window was pockmarked from the shards of glass. Once inside, the turkey scrambled through the kitchen and ambled into Business Manager Gail McCoy's office.
“This was one big turkey,” she said, “I've been here five years and I've never seen anything like this.” Novato Police arrived and apprehended the avian offender and waited for the Marin Humane Society. No one was reported injured, including the turkey. “That's one lucky turkey,” Marin Humane Society spokeswoman Sheri Cardo said. Humane Society workers released the bird a short distance away.
The reason for the turkey's ransacking of NHS was a matter of speculation, but Cardo thought the bird's behavior was more confused than aggressive. “Undoubtedly, this turkey has learned it's lesson,” she said. Melanie Piazza of WildCare, a non-profit wildlife rehab center in San Rafael, said that it was likely the turkey had seen the reflection of sky and trees in the glass. “We get a lot of birds every year that hit windows ... turkeys are just big enough to fly right through them,” she said. Piazza, a Director of Animal Care, said that another wild turkey was being treated in her care, and weighed 14 lbs. While not aggressive, she warned residents not attempt catching them because of their sharp talons. “I would not recommend trying to handle them,” Piazza said. Wild Turkeys are a non-native species introduced into California by the State Department of Fish and Game in the 70's for hunting. They typically rest by flying on to low-hanging branches of trees, and can reach speeds of up to 55 m.p.h. in flight.
Article Rating
Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of NovatoAdvance.com.
Submit a Comment
We encourage your feedback and dialog; all comments will be reviewed by our Web staff before appearing on the Web site. Any material that is contrary to good taste, contains objectionable material, is not in compliance with community standards or does not meet the standards of the Advance, will not be posted to the Web site.
