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Aggressive Turkey, Named 'Godzilla,' Stalks Detroit-Area Woman Daily (VIDEO)

03/ 5/12 04:54 PM ET  AP

COMMERCE TOWNSHIP, Mich. — An Oakland County woman says she's become a prisoner on her own property, stalked and harassed by a 25-pound turkey.

Edna Geisler calls the foul bird "Godzilla." The 69-year-old told the Detroit Free Press ( ) that the turkey wanders near her Commerce Township property each day from nearby woods. She recently couldn't get to her front door after a trip to the grocery store. http://on.freep.com/xzbbJI

"I have to go to the post office at 6 o'clock in the morning to avoid him," said Geisler, who has been bumped and clawed.

She has tried changing her schedule but this turkey is no dummy. A friend, Rick Reid, said the turkey went after him, too, when he opened the door on his minivan.

"He tried to come right in the door," Reid said. "He bit me on the elbow."

Indeed, a video posted online by the Free Press shows Godzilla roaming the grounds like they're his own. State wildlife expert Tim Payne said adult turkeys are known to aggressively defend their territory, although most fear people.

"This bird has probably attacked, and the person retreats," said Payne of the Department of Natural Resources. "What it tells the bird is, `What I'm doing is good.' It reinforces the aggressive behavior."

Payne suggested Geisler open a large umbrella to drive the turkey back to the woods.

"Make some runs at the bird and become the aggressor," he said. "The bird needs to learn who's the boss."

Geisler wants the turkey gone by summer so she can work in her garden. The hunting season opens in April.

"Every time I eat turkey I smile," she said. "I'd like to do that to him."

___

Information from: Detroit Free Press, http://www.freep.com

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COMMERCE TOWNSHIP, Mich. — An Oakland County woman says she's become a prisoner on her own property, stalked and harassed by a 25-pound turkey. Edna Geisler calls the foul bird "Godzilla." The ...
COMMERCE TOWNSHIP, Mich. — An Oakland County woman says she's become a prisoner on her own property, stalked and harassed by a 25-pound turkey. Edna Geisler calls the foul bird "Godzilla." The ...
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HUFFPOST SUPER USER
Mrsbean54
07:39 AM on 03/09/2012
My grandparents has a peacock in their neighborhood for quite a while....a really beautiful bird. We used to feed him peanuts. Apparently a few of the neighborhood kids had been chasing him and pulling at his tail feathers, and after that he became aggressive. He was finally taken away when he trapped the mailman on a front porch for 2 hours.....

It's possible this turkey had been provoked by someone, and just flipped the switch and became aggressive. I'm not sure if you can bring them back from that, but he's quite a large adult turkey....probably about time to eat him.
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Mrsbean54
07:36 AM on 03/09/2012
At 0:37 seconds turkeys says "You want some, fool?"
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Mr Hoodoo
"I Wish I Could Talk In Technicolor"
06:53 PM on 03/08/2012
Kill it and eat it for cryin' out loud.

It's coming on her property she has a right to defend from such a dangerous critter.
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RustamnTanya Qazi
10:56 AM on 03/07/2012
Oh please shoot the darn thing and put it in the freezer for thanksgiving!
08:28 AM on 03/07/2012
This bird is surely a drop out. It needs to go back to school. Stay in school, get an EDUCATION!
07:50 AM on 03/07/2012
This happens to those that lack a formal education. So do get your diploma,stay in school!
orthobobsuruncle
Insurance is not the same as welfare
03:00 AM on 03/07/2012
Tase the little bugger.
hifie
Middle of the road American advocate
07:53 PM on 03/06/2012
Catch him move him to a new location or have an early t-day. All the other posts are correct about Red
07:14 PM on 03/06/2012
It is not helping a bit that the folks in this video are trying to corral him with a red broom. To him, this is the color of an aggressive competitor. Using a red broom is like pouring gasoline on a fire. Sounds silly, I know, but I have lived with a flock of wild turkeys and I know them.
07:10 PM on 03/06/2012
Ma'am, if you are reading this, I happen to know a great deal about wild turkey behavior. I have lived with lots of wild turkeys who behaved just like yours. When a turkey has grown up near people, it loses its fear, and can be very aggressive. Obviously. At this time of year they are particularly excited by the color red, sort of like the old myth about bulls. However, turkeys see color, and to them, red is the sign of an aggressive competitor. You will help your situation a lot if you never wear red and never carry anything red. He'd be pretty easy to catch for someone who knows what he is doing.
05:59 PM on 03/06/2012
this turkey does not know who the boss of the yard is, get someone to kick him down the road about 5 feet to teach him who is the boss lol, he is claiming the area as his own and a good boot will give him something to think about lol.
07:12 PM on 03/06/2012
Wild turkeys seem mighty smart when you hunt them, but when they lose their fear of people they are just plain dumb. Kicking him out of the yard may help, but you have to be very aggressive, and willing to repeatedly confront him. He really has to believe you are the alpha male, unfortunately. This guy would be pretty easy to catch if she can find someone who knows what he or she is doing. I've done it a number of times.
05:08 PM on 03/06/2012
Now that is what you call TURKEY HUNTING in the south
04:53 PM on 03/06/2012
We love our turkey. He is agressive but we can handle him. We have a peacock that is 12 years old. His tail is almost 5' long.
04:21 PM on 03/06/2012
Thanksgiving can't come soon enough for that poor lady!! lol
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bizzaro birdman
The poolhall is a great equalizer
03:52 PM on 03/06/2012
A shotgun can take care of this problem real quick.