Oh, that's too bad. I saw them wandering around Erie and I pulled over a few times to watch them. So, there were no farmers in the area that would want to raise them? I guess they could be a nuisance. The seagulls and geese can be a nuisance, also - why can't we shoot them? Can't even walk through some parks without stepping in goose droppings.

Wow watch out they may attack your car are they serious?

Are we sure that this story was not originally reported in "The Onion?"

From The Onion:

WASHINGTON, DC—Cousin Wattle, the official National Thanksgiving Turkey who was to have been pardoned by President Bush in an annual White House ceremony that dates back to the Truman administration, is currently being held without formal charges or access to legal counsel, White House press secretary Scott McClellan confirmed Tuesday.

McClellan said that Wattle, a 41-pound White Holland tom, is in custody after having been judged a "potential security risk" to the president Monday.

"Cousin Wattle's conduct prior to the pardoning ceremony prompted Justice Department officials to authorize the bird's detention as an enemy combatant," McClellan said. "He exhibited hostile, potentially seditious behavior that could endanger the safety of the president or other government officials."

http://www.theonion.com/articles/white-house-thanksgiving-turkey-detained-without-c,1253/

I swear this is a true story.

ROFL, but for the turkey's demise.

Perhaps Presdient Coutt's will talk turkey at the next Village Board meeting? I'm sure the audience would gobble up such discussion.

As a kid I learned to live around territorial roosters, and the turkeys on my back deck, being shorter than me, seemed to understand the natural dominance order. But did they have to be shot? A loud yell and a broom wouldn't shoo them away? What might be so tasty about those police car tires? Oh, well, assaulting a Police Officer is a serious crime.

Poor turkeys!

Hoffa doesn't like to see any animal getting arbitrarily shot for non-food related purposes. If we couldn't come up with a better way to contain and remove the unwanted turkeys, then that's a huge failing of a supposedly more intelligent species, isn't it?

This is a pretty sad story and in my honest opinion, officials just took the lazy way out in shooting the turkeys. What a bunch of crap! The idiot official that made this call should be fired or recalled (if elected)!

I don't know about anyone else but,I'm glad to hear Ron Coutts wasn't injured by these vicious harassing turkeys.I've been harassed by loud exhaust making turkeys for 4 years,called police at least 7 times,they go through their procedure,blah,blah,blah never to be heard from again.NOW I know why.Police are too busy taking care of the turkeys in the south,while I'm left to take care of the turkeys in the north.Just a thought,does this mean I can shoot these northern harassing with loud exhaust turkeys?Just wondering.VROOOOM,oops excuse me,gotta go get my gun and shoot some turkeys.Before I leave,thank god WE energies had the time in his busy schedule to save the day,amen.Almost forgot,these turkeys harrassed us ALL DAY long Sunday,Dec4,2011 again on Dec.5,2011,over and out.

These turkeys start early,like 3:30 am.Then 5:30 to at least 8:30am.Then a few turkeys in between until around 2:00pm.Then from 2:00pm. to 6:30pm.Then 8:00pm.to 9:00pm.Then 10:00pm to12:30am.Sometimes these turkeys will go all the way to 3:30am,Just to keep the momentum going,going,and going.

Will Ron Coutts be known forever now as "Turkey Ron"?

These were the turkey's President Obama pardoned. Now you have done it!

Rudi, you should attend some type of writing class. What a horrible read.

Anyway, I was one of the turkey visitors since I discovered them in the road some time ago. I never fed them, but I loved to watch them become territorial of my car an any other car that didn't have the heart to run them down. And they would try to prevent you from driving away by running in front of your car as soon as they saw it moving. It was a neat attraction, and quite humorous - for a while.

This past fall, they became very agressive, to the point they were running into the road when a car came and twice tried to fly into my open window. You either stopped or ran them over. I can only imagine how they received walkers, bicyclists, and area residents. I was sad for about 1 minute when I heard they were blasted. But I completely understand why.

I hear death by pecking is becoming a serious problem....Anyway, this reminds me of a "This American Life" (public radio show) story that was done recently - It's Pt. 2 of Poultry Slam 2011 - http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/452/poultry-slam-2011

Jacob... I actually listened to that yesterday morning while working out. And I was just about ready to post it.

I live on Erie street and had these very same wild turkeys in my yard. I took photo's of them. They were in my yard for approximately 30 minutes before I opened my garage door and they strolled away to the yard next door. It is a sad commentary on today's society that the easiest solution to a problem is violence. You would hope that we as intelligent humans have evolved enough to not resort to killing nuisance wildlife as a first resort!

Hey Gregg... thanks for posting. I had heard though that the turkeys also stood in the middle of the road quite a bit.

You're welcome. I have posted two pictures of them on my FB wall. One shows them in my yard, an the other on the side of the road walking facing traffic. From my perspective they follow the traffic rules better than most pedestrians on Erie St. Not to mention they are well within the speed limit........wish I could say that for the majority of the traffic on a street with school traffic. :)

Did you see this? http://www.cbs58.com/news/local-news/Angry-Birds-in-Caledonia-135131938.html

Yup, I knew about it. They called asked if they could use my photo. And I told them they could if they credited me.

BTW... check out the video I have of the Village President explaining himself.

http://blutube.policeone.com/police-cool-stuff-videos/935489347001-funny-suspect-attack-a-police-officer/
Gobble Gobble.

According to the cbs story posted above by Heather, they ended up in a dumpster. Everyone I have discussed this with, disagrees with how this was handled...

sure glad I moved away from caledonia killer turkeys are just to much. you have got to be kidding, the cops who told me I was over reacting to bullet holes in the house and garage are afraid of two birds and had to shoot them is unbeleiveble.Maybee they should look into feather peircing bullets as standard equip.

I question some parts of Coutts' story. The mail carrier for the area says the turkeys never prevented his delivery of the mail......I think they irritated Coutts and so he got rid of them. If you live in Caledonia, you should expect to have wildlife around.

I am really going to miss these turkeys :(