An 83-year-old California woman was left bloodied, bruised and in need of stitches after a gang of wild turkeys ambushed her during an evening walk in Alameda.
Mary Jo Kelly, a longtime resident of the Bay Area city, said she was out walking last Thursday when two of the birds attacked her from behind, sending her crashing to the ground.
“I went headfirst, and I broke my glasses. I hit the palm of my hand, my thumb. I bled in the nose,” Kelly told ABC 7.
The frightening encounter left Kelly with severe bruising across her face that remained visible a week later.
After escaping the attacking birds, Kelly called her husband, who rushed her to the emergency room. Doctors performed a CT scan and treated her injuries, including six stitches in her right hand.
The ordeal has left Kelly shaken and demanding action from city officials before someone else gets hurt.
She told the outlet she contacted the Alameda Police Department to file a report after the attack, but said officers told her they could not take one because the incident involved wildlife.
“If a dog bites you, of course they’re going to pick him up. But that’s domestic. So they’re ignoring the problem basically,” Kelly said.
Emily Crum, an animal control officer with the Alameda Police Department said the city currently cannot remove the wild turkeys.
Crum explained birds are in their spring mating season, a period when they can become more aggressive. The department also noted that a turkey recently attacked a pet dog.
“Try to not approach them. Go on the other side of the street. Make sure you have a leash on your dog. And just try to stay as far away from them as possible,” she added.
Despite the terrifying encounter, Kelly said she refuses to let the birds keep her indoors forever. For now, though, she’s staying closer to home and steering clear of any turkeys she spots.
“It was just pretty scary. Kind of shell shocked. A little afraid to go too far.”