Feathers fly: Kansas deputies subdue turkey that broke into home

LAWRENCE, Kan. — There was no fowl play at a Kansas residence earlier this month, and that led to the pardon of a trespassing turkey.

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The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office released body camera video of two deputies subduing the angry bird on Nov. 10 -- “Call him Tom,” a video posted to the department’s Facebook page suggested.

Deputies said the wild turkey flew through a window and into the woman’s home in Douglas County, WDAF-TV reported. When the woman could not convince the bird to leave, she called for backup from the sheriff’s office.

The deputies found the bird hanging out in a bedroom next to the woman’s bed, according to the television station.

One of the deputies spoke calmly to the agitated bird.

“Hey, fella,” one deputy can be heard on the video. “What are you doing up here, old man?

But when the coaxing failed, the deputies tossed a blanket over the turkey and tried to wrangle it.

The turkey was not going quietly, however, fighting back and freeing itself as feathers flew through the room.

A second try by the deputies worked, and they were able to get the turkey out of the home, WDAF reported.

No doubt, the bird knew that Thanksgiving was approaching and did not want to become the main course at someone’s home. However, Sheriff Jay Armbrister was lenient, pardoning the gobbler from any prosecution -- or ovens.

“In the spirit of Thanksgiving, Sheriff Armbrister has pardoned a Douglas County turkey from any criminal damage charges,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement. “Tom the Turkey broke through a window and into a Douglas County resident’s home on Nov. 10. Thanks to the quick thinking and good work of Master Deputy Dunkle and Deputy Bonner, they were able to safely remove the bird from inside the home and set him free.”

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