THE WEST SEATTLE TURKEY: Drivers beware!

| Safety | West Seattle news | Wildlife

We interrupt the rest of the news for a quick safety alert about The West Seattle Turkey. Today, it’s been seen in The Junction … Kristina sent the photo above, after seeing it crossing usually busy SW Alaska. Earlier in the day, it was southeast of The Junction, walking in a much-safer place, up someone’s stairs:

In recent days TWST (now in its 12th month in West Seattle) has gone from Gatewood to High Point to Snake Hill to, now, The Junction. So there’s yet another reason to stay home … avoid running over The Turkey (not to mention helping your fellow humans stay safe).

Turkey Fan March 30, 2020 (4:03 pm)

Who’s going to stop the West Seattle Turkey from crossing the now empty bridge??

James March 30, 2020 (4:30 pm)

Is there even a mate for this turkey in our area or is this a solitary creature doomed to neighborhood entertainment :p

Erin March 30, 2020 (5:39 pm)

Thank you WSB and all those submitting sighting photos. They are just what we need right now! Love it.

Sixbuck March 30, 2020 (6:34 pm)

Can we get Mayor Durkan to pardon this Tom and give him the keys to the city?

Scubafrog March 31, 2020 (8:27 am)

YES! Great idea Sixbuck! I’m 100% in. Co-Mayor West Seattle Turkey

M March 30, 2020 (6:41 pm)

Hopefully she returns back to the Admiral/Belvedere neighborhood. Much less traffic.

Charles Mendelson March 30, 2020 (9:09 pm)

I saw her on 40th and manning around 6 o’clock tonight!

JW March 30, 2020 (6:47 pm)

This Turkey really gets around ! I always love the pictures !!!

West side mama March 30, 2020 (6:50 pm)

The turkey is in clear violation of the stay at home order. He clearly thinks the rules don’t apply to him.

Mj March 30, 2020 (7:30 pm)

M I agree she needs to get back to the Admiral Hood. AT is taking advantage of low traffic volumes

WGA March 30, 2020 (7:38 pm)

I’m laughing at how felliniesque this whole story has become. Hardly anyone around and this turkey is owning the neighborhood. It’s a nice distraction.

WSB March 30, 2020 (8:07 pm)

I am still so sad that we were getting sightings and photos last week from as close as a block from us …but TWST never graced us with her presence. Ah well. Thanks to everyone for the continued updates. – TR
- Alki resident March 30, 2020 (8:55 pm)
  
  Maybe put in a request. She seems busy and preoccupied.

Ray Bro March 30, 2020 (7:39 pm)

While out walking our dog just a little after 7 this evening we saw the turkey on 40th SW near Hanford.

rpp March 30, 2020 (8:48 pm)

That’s back to get regular neighborhood and really makes me think there could be two turkeys in town.
- Eric1 March 30, 2020 (11:41 pm)
  
  It would be nice if there were a few more turkeys in town (winged type). She was probably out looking for a “friend” as spring is in the air. Flocks of turkeys can be an annoyance but I think West Seattle could use a small flock of turkeys. Imagine turkey Tuesdays then…
- momosmom March 31, 2020 (7:54 am)
  
  @RPP, I was thinking the same thing, or it seems like this one bird really gets around??? and why did the chicken cross the road… to see where the WS Turkey was going!

Alkiresident52 March 30, 2020 (8:31 pm)

Huzzah. I’ve put the clues together:Clue 1: Missing CoyotesClue 2: Fast Confident BirdClue 3: Mystery crack in bridge.Beep! Beep!

LR March 31, 2020 (3:29 am)
REBEKAH March 31, 2020 (1:46 pm)

EXACTLY!!!!

Marianne March 30, 2020 (9:00 pm)

Stay safe Turkey(s)! We don’t need anymore bad news.

Kevin March 31, 2020 (8:04 am)

This is from last week in Gatewood. I couldn’t believe my eyes until I saw the previous story about the WST on here. Very friendly and bold as she strolled down the middle of the road. Happy to see she’s still cruising West Seattle.

miws March 31, 2020 (9:09 am)

WSB March 31, 2020 (9:32 am)

We haven’t given TWST its own archive yet, probably should. Coyotes:
http://westseattleblog.com/category/coyotes

Rick March 31, 2020 (9:50 am)

We have plenty of turkeys in local government. At least this one’s honest(I only assume that) and entertaining.

Farmer Christina March 31, 2020 (10:14 am)

That’s a female, and she is very likely looking for a mate. The horniness of turkeys should be legendary. They make rabbits look chaste.
She may be laying eggs, and she likely won’t stop this obsessive wandering until she either finds a mate or decides to brood on a clutch of eggs. If those eggs aren’t fertile, she’ll brood too long and could potentially hurt herself.

Janelle March 31, 2020 (10:26 am)

Stay safe, cool hen :)

I just read the oldest known wild turkey lived at least 13 years… maybe with our looking out she will surpass the typical 3-5 year lifespan!

This documentary looks interesting, fyi fellow nature nerds:

https://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/my-life-as-a-turkey-introduction/7268/

Julia Chase March 31, 2020 (12:26 pm)

She was spotted up at Providence Mt. St. Vincent Long-term Care on Sunday (near 37th and Edmonds). The residents were looking out their windows, so happy to finally have a safe VISITOR (from a distance)! The WST brought much joy! :)

Jerry Simmons March 31, 2020 (12:37 pm)

Jerry Simmons March 31, 2020 (12:41 pm)

anonyme March 31, 2020 (1:11 pm)

Jerry, you’ve definitely captured this week’s best bird photo award. Maybe even the month, or better. She looks a bit forlorn. Lonely, no doubt.

Andrew P March 31, 2020 (3:39 pm)

Admiral Belvidere spotting on 40th today. Proof everybody (and bird) enjoy a little outdoor time when the sun’s out.

Brian Hughes April 1, 2020 (5:17 pm)

Jerry posted a pic a couple of days ago at 41st and Dawson – just a block north of us. We went out looking, but never saw her. Maybe one day. She does get around.

Joe bayley April 12, 2020 (11:57 am)

Didn’t know she was a celebrity- happy Easter all- no eggs fromhersalmon creek park April 12- noon

Jenny April 16, 2020 (9:41 am)

Well I am in Burien and Ms. Turkey found her way into my chicken run and had a bit of a standoff with my lead hen! She ate some chicken food, spent the night, and took off early this morning. I wonder is this is the fabled WSWT?!