WEST SEATTLE TURKEY: Still hanging around

| Seen around town | West Seattle news | Wildlife

So far, no turkey experts have come forward to offer opinions on whether the turkey who appeared in West Seattle recently is the same one who hung out here for a year before heading south in April 2020. So we’re not so sure about calling this one THE West Seattle Turkey. But this turkey’s newfound fans have named her anyway. Meredith, who sent the photo above, says, “We’ve decided to call her Henrietta. She’s been sleeping here for over a week so we thought she needed a name.” The turkey’s adopted area is just a bit south of the 2019-2020 sightings-rich area southeast of Admiral. Lisa D., in the short video below, described her as “neighbor turkey”:

Henrietta (or whatever you want to call her) is still drawing attention from neighborhood pets too – Alan sent this photo:

The state Fish and Wildlife Department notes that turkeys are more common in eastern Washington, but does say “small populations” pop up here west of the Cascades now and then,

Jesse Andreini July 14, 2021 (9:00 pm)

I for one welcome our turkey interlopers, although I am not at all convinced that this is our bird of old. Different face, and I don’t doubt, a different gait.

Laina Vereschagin July 14, 2021 (9:37 pm)

Hi!I know this turkey’s origin story! It’s not Tallulah. One of my neighbors got her, doesn’t have a fenced in yard and just let her roam and do her thing. She started on 40th between Dakota and Gennessee and now belongs to the community. There’s a lot more I can say, but I’ll leave it at that for now!

WSB July 14, 2021 (9:56 pm)

Thanks; if they want to tell her story, even anonymously, email me any time. Maybe we can just call her West Seattle Turkey Two.
- Laina Vereschagin July 14, 2021 (9:59 pm)
  
  Will do! I was calling her Tallulah 2, and other neighbors were calling her Jimmy.
Auntie July 15, 2021 (11:14 am)

From the two latest posts, it sounds like this turkey is not street savvy, almost getting run over a couple of times. Might be time for her people to round her up and get her back into the corral. lots of drivers don’t like to slow down for pedestrians, let alone a turkey.
- Laina Vereschagin July 28, 2021 (9:06 am)
  
  Hi! Her previous owners aren’t people we’d want in charge of any animals. I’ve already rescued one of their other animals (a bunny) from their cruelty. They don’t even have their yard fenced in, so I’m not sure why they continue to get animals. I did talk with the dad a few days ago and told him to stop getting pets. I’ve talked with animal control about him (all of our neighbors have called them on him), and they won’t come out but have said to make sure he knows he’s not allowed to get more pets. Fingers crossed my message got through to him.

M July 14, 2021 (10:15 pm)

This turkey has a little different coloring than Admiral Belvedere.

Ellis July 15, 2021 (9:48 am)

I agree, this isn’t the same turkey as the feathers are different, but in any case, the last one seen in Admiral was a male and so is this one.

Worried About Harriet July 15, 2021 (10:16 am)

My neighbors and I (on 42nd between Dakota and Andover) were just comparing notes and we are worried about her safety. My neighbor had to go out in the road and yell at a driver this morning so he wouldn’t hit her and people are letting their dogs get too close. She’s been fun to see for a few days, but it’s time for her people to come get her.

Chris July 15, 2021 (10:43 am)

I had the joy of personally meeting the West Seattle turkey today. I was there when a guy almost hit her this morning. I had pulled over to let her safely pass & other driver had other ideas. Thanks to kind people taking care of her. Thank you.