Police Chief: Mr. Gobbles is "Basically ODNR's Turkey"

The turkey Mentor residents can't stop talking about is still roaming the city, but the police chief says the wild animal is the state's problem.

Though Mentor Police tried to help the Ohio Department of Natural Resources' wildlife division capture "Mr. Gobbles" earlier this week, Chief Kevin Knight reiterated Tuesday night that wild animals are the responsibility of that state agency.

"We're really not that involved, though the other day we did try to help chase it off the street so it doesn't create any traffic issues," Knight said.

Mentor Police Lt. Ken Zbiegien told The News-Herald that an ODNR employee shot at the turkey during attempts to capture it on Route 84, near Little Mountain Road.

"I know the original intent was to relocate it," Knight said. "It's basically ODNR's turkey."

WATCH: Mentor Turkey Stops Traffic

Knight said there have not been any crashes reported as a direct result of the turkey, but the department received "several" calls about near crashes.

Cramer said Jason Keller, the ODNR officer who previously tried to catch the turkey, asked for assistance in this week's efforts. Over the weekend, she put a large dog cage in the driveway with bird feed in it. Within two days, the turkey was gone and has not come back to her property.

"It's like he knew they were trying to get him," she said.

Cramer said her daughter saw the bird on 84 near Plaza Boulevard on Monday. By that evening, the turkey had escaped officers, flying to the roof of a house near Chillicothe Road in Kirtland Hills, according to The News-Herald. Lake Metroparks has offered to bring the turkey to Penitentiary Glen in Kirtland.

The turkey had been hanging around the intersection of routes 84 and 306since late November, frequenting the driveway and vehicle roofs of Mona Cramer and her family. Earlier this month, Keller declared the turkey a public safety concern because it had walking into traffic more often.

Cramer said members of her family were angered to hear that shots were fired at the turkey.

"This is a horrible development — I'm really quite annoyed," she said. "Why are they purposely trying to shoot him? He is moving east.

"He's migrating, but because his path happens to be the side of the road, we have to shoot him? That's nuts."