West Orange’s Wild Turkey Continues To Give Authorities The Slip

WEST ORANGE, NJ — Thanksgiving season isn’t a good time to be a turkey on the loose in suburbia.

On Monday, the Township of West Orange released an update about the ongoing effort to capture and relocate a wild turkey that has been roaming around the area of Pleasant Valley Way.

Local sightings of the turkey have been inspiring a wave of posts on social media over the past few weeks, with several West Orange residents finding the animal’s random appearances to be a pleasant distraction from their normal routines.

But it’s crucial that the public refrains from approaching the wild turkey for “safety reasons,” according to a statement from the township – including for the sake of the animal.

According to the township:

“Please be advised the Township of West Orange is aware of the wild turkey present on Pleasant Valley Way, in the area of Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation and Daughters of Israel. West Orange Animal Control has been working with New Jersey Fish & Wildlife for the past two weeks to capture and relocate this turkey. It's crucial that the public refrains from approaching the wild turkey for safety reasons. Wild animals can become stressed or agitated when approached, which can pose risks to both the animal and humans. Feeding the turkey or attempting to remove tranquilizing darts is strongly discouraged. Interfering with the wildlife professionals' efforts can complicate the situation and potentially harm the turkey. New Jersey Fish and Wildlife authorities are actively working to capture and relocate the turkey. They have been trying to tranquilize the bird, but have encountered some challenges in their efforts so far.”

“If you have any questions or concerns related to this situation, it is recommended that you contact New Jersey Fish & Wildlife at 908-735-4513,” West Orange officials said. “They can provide you with updates and further information.”

“Should this turkey attack a human or become aggressive, contact the West Orange Police Department immediately by calling 9-1-1,” town officials added.

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com. Learn more about advertising on Patch here. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site. Don’t forget to visit the Patch West Orange Facebook page.