We have all been lucky enough to happen upon one of natures wild critters and felt special when were were able to view them at a close distance.  Well my latest wild critter encounter turned into a hood ornament.  Don't worry my car was not moving and the Turkey was unharmed and was quiet amusing.

 

      I was pulling into the driveway of one of my dog customers home for our usual weekly walk.  At the end of the driveway, in the back yard, was a single wild Turkey. I needed to go into the back door to get my little dog friend, so I needed to approach the Turkey.  As I did, he of course became wary of my approach, but walked away as slow as I approached.

 

     I, of course don't know if it was a he or a she, so for now I will refer to the Turkey as a he. I soon learned this yard was his territory and he would soon let me know what he thought of my intruding on his time and space.  I foolishly assume of course, if it was a female Turkey, she would have not treated me so unkindly as the story unfolds.

 

    After getting my little dog friend Panda inside the house, we went on our way for her walk.  The Turkey had left the yard and was no where to be seen, or so I thought.  As we came back from our walk and rounded the corner back to the house, my car had just come into view.  As my eyes strained to see at a distance, I realized there was something on the front hood of my car which was quite big.  I looked in disbelief and remember thinking, that looks like a Turkey.  No, it can't be the same Turkey?   Sure enough, as we got closer I realized it really was the same Turkey I had seen in the yard.  He saw us coming and unlike last time, he didn't see the need to walk away but stood proudly on the hood of my car.  This amazed me because I was not alone this time, but accompanied by a dog, which Turkeys all have a natural avoidance of.

 

As we slowly approached the Turkey, I of course took a few pictures to have proof of this strange behavior.  At this time, I realized the Turkey was looking defiant and not going to move.  I  imagined him thinking that it was his yard and I should not have bothered him.   Panda and I chuckled, okay I just chuckled and Panda stretched her neck to see this large bird, as we made our way back into the house.  We were as close as 8 feet and I was impressed with the beauty of this wild creature.

 

     After settling Panda in with a fresh bowl of water, a treat and some hugs, I headed back to my car.  In my amazement the Turkey was still on my car dead center on the hood.  "Okay I do have to go now and you do have to leave" I said to him.  Again being respectful of this beautiful creature I walked slowly to my car.  He saw that I was in fact getting very close and proceeded to walk across the hood planning his exit.  As he did this, I heard the buckle of metal on the hood of my car.  This Turkey was very large and now I realized could he hurt my car?

 

The chuckle turned into please don't scratch my car.  Luckily, he jumped off gracefully and made his retreat.  As I got into my car I saw him disappear around the other side of the house.  As I started my car and got ready to drive away, I realized the Turkey left me a message.  There on the front hood of my car was a very large poop deposit, dead center, close to the front glass.

 

I laughed so hard and thought he did in fact get the last word.